Jekyll & Hyde Inc.

Daniel was still fighting a desire to get his hands on her, one way or another. He could tell Tina knew exactly what he was feeling, and that it amused her. He breathed deeply, forcing his raging blood down. Because he couldn’t do all the things he needed to do, if he couldn’t control himself.

“Just because I’m a Hyde, doesn’t mean I’m always going to act like one,” he said finally.

“Well,” said Tina. “You’re no fun.”

She turned her back on him quite casually, found a chair that had survived more or less intact, and sat down in the midst of the wreckage. Daniel searched for something to say, couldn’t think of anything, and settled for finding another chair and sitting down opposite her.

“Now we’ve introduced ourselves, I’ll brief you on the mission,” said Tina.

“That would be helpful,” said Daniel.

“We’ll be invading the annual gathering of the Frankenstein Clan. And just to put a smile on your face, we are talking about the entire family, so whoever destroyed your old life will definitely be there. What else do you need to know?”

“Edward assured me there was a plan,” said Daniel.

Tina shrugged. “The plan is simple: go where they are, kill everyone we see, and not get caught doing it.”

A cold rage seethed in Daniel’s heart, at the thought of finally getting his hands on the monsters from the cellar. The sheer strength of the emotion disturbed him, and he had to force it down before he could speak calmly and clearly.

“Will it be just the family at this gathering, or can we expect to run into some of those oversized thugs as well?”

“Each faction in the family runs its own collection of creatures,” Tina said easily. “Patchwork things, pieced together from graveyard leftovers. They act as bodyguards, to protect the factions from each other, and as general servants and security guards. Fortunately, they’re all muscle and no brain.”

Daniel frowned. “Exactly how many people, and creatures, are we talking about?”

“Around three hundred,” said Tina. “Maybe more, if we’re lucky.”

“You really think we can wipe out that many of them on our own?” said Daniel.

“Providing we use a big enough bomb,” said Tina. She laughed at the look on his face. “What did you think we were going to do—march in there and beat them all to death with our bare hands?”

“That does sound like something I’d enjoy,” said Daniel.

“Oh, me too,” said Tina. “But it would be far too time-consuming. And some of them might get away.”

Daniel leaned back in his chair, and studied her thoughtfully. “So, you’re my new partner. You’re not what I was expecting.”

“I know,” said Tina. “You thought I’d be taller.”

“I came here to fight monsters,” said Daniel. “Not act like a terrorist.”

Tina shrugged. “Potato, tomato. Hydes are all about the winning.”

“Question?” said Daniel.

“Ask away,” Tina said generously.

“Why is Edward trusting a newcomer like me with such an important mission?”

“You have more reason than most to hate Frankensteins,” said Tina. “And Edward believes in motivation.”

Daniel nodded slowly. “Do they really all have to die? Are none of them worth saving?”

“Long years of doing favors for those in power have made the Frankensteins untouchable,” said Tina. “And corrupt from top to bottom. The only justice they’ll ever face is what we hand out. Do you have a problem with getting your hands dirty?”

Daniel wasn’t ready to answer that, just yet. “Why is Edward only sending the two of us?”

“Because there aren’t that many Hydes,” said Tina. “Never have been. At present there are nine of us, including you. And everyone else is busy.”

“Why so few?” said Daniel.

“Because the Elixir kills most of the people who take it,” Tina said calmly. “Blows the heart apart like a firecracker in a rotten apple.”

Daniel stared at her. Tina grinned.

“You didn’t know that when you drank it, did you? Not everyone has a Hyde in them,” she said. “The Elixir needs rage and hatred to fuel the change, and the kind of inner strength you only get from seriously motivated people.”

Daniel finally got his voice back. “Why didn’t Edward tell me that, before I drank the potion?”

“You think he cared?” said Tina. “He’s Edward Hyde! He probably thought it was funny. Would it have made any difference if you had known?”

Daniel decided he’d rather talk about something else. “How does Edward know where the Frankenstein Clan holds its annual gathering?”

“He’s been trying to get a hold over someone on the inside for ages,” said Tina. “Unfortunately you have to be family to be a Frankenstein. But just recently one of them approached Edward: a young researcher who’d had the idea of combining the Hyde Elixir with a Frankenstein creation, to produce something new and more powerful. Edward was convinced the Frankenstein wouldn’t be able to resist trying the potion himself, so he only provided a very dilute solution. Just enough to produce a single short-term change. Once the Frankenstein turned back, and wanted more. He was hooked. An addict. He had no choice but to come to Edward—and the price was the gathering’s location.”