Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“What is your name?”

“Ha…shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

“Please, tell me, if not for me, but for her.”

“…”

A tense atmosphere fills her bedroom, while she stares at the familiar she’s summoned. The man cuts as a nobleman from another century, his voice is annoying similar to the teacher that had given her a hard time. Lisette scowls, now adverting her gaze from the other blond. •••••• didn’t have the guts to participate in the Grail War, that’s why, in her sweet voice pleaded to her to save her from the gnawing anxiety. 

"Please save me", she distantly recalls she couldn't turn away from the girl who is her everything. "Protect me, please!"

Her mouth doesn't move, the silhouette of the crying girl reaches out toward Lisette with her ball joints. "You won't mind doing it... right?"

The faceless form of her beloved soon grows roses for eyes. Their petals begin to bleed and it eerily reminds her of Harpae, she wants to vomit on sight. 

It’s bullshit, but there’s nothing that she could do. Aside from Harpae, no one else wanted to contribute. Fleta continued to be a brat who lazed around and didn’t bother coming to front, so it’d be up to her and Harpae to handle this situation. Not like she wanted to do it either; what other choice did she have when Father had his expectations? She’s already thrown a fit, her bedroom floor now a jungle of books and toys that that she– in her anger, shoved down. Her Servant crosses his arms, eying her from a sidelong glance. It appeared he hadn’t figured everything out, not yet at least.

“It doesn’t matter, since I’ll look the same, no matter what.” Lisette settles on, “Just call me by the name Father told you, okay? Makes things easier, Assassin.”

“And it’s not just me,” Lisette continues, while a frown lines her lips, “it’s not like we’re accepted in this family anyway, only she is. So that’s the name I’ll chose to go by.”

“…But even so,” Her Servant cuts in, “each of you have an identity….which is distinctive, is it wrong not want to be cherished as an individual….?”

“Real ironic coming from you,” She mutters, rolling her eyes. “How’d he feel when you tried killing him?”

Assassin falls silent. Bingo, she thinks, for a moment, Lisette thinks she’s off the hook and he’ll shut the hell up. But her partner replies back a moment later.

“It was best for the both of us, before we both got hurt,” Assassin replies melancholically, “….I….I acknowledge he’s apart of me, but we both did terrible things, so …in the end, I wanted to right our––my wrong. Unlike us, we didn’t function correctly, but you all have the chance to…so what is your preferred name, Master?”

“…Goody two shoes,” She mutters, it reminds her too much of ••••••. But the sincerity in Assassin’s words strikes a chord in her, which is something she would tell her. It appears Assassin had enough time to mull his transgressions over. He doesn’t say anything in response to that, instead looks at her anticipation, awaiting what she might say.

“You……can….” Her eyes are adverted from him, but they gradually meet his gentle gaze. “Call me……Lisette, I guess. The others probably will come to you too, whenever that’ll be.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Lisette––” 

“Tch, quit the pleasantries and shit, Mr. Goody Two Shoes! I don’t need that crap.” 

“My…my apologies, but I’ll keep that in mind,” He trails off, now offering her curious look, “I—we…..I look forward to working with you, Lisette.”

Lisette notes of the subtle change in the Doctor’s eyes, she snorts, shrugging her shoulders. “Yeah, yeah, I guess the same to you too.”

“….This….must be Master’s mind scape.” Jekyll notes, now glancing around the void area. He’s accompanied by a similar looking man, whose clothes are dirtied by blood. “Can you sense her?”

“Well…which her are we talkin’ about?” The murderer, Hyde, snarks, now taking a step forward in the murky abyss. They walk over stone cobblestone for miles, it almost feels like an eternity, until they reach the end of the hall. 

One moment, Hyde’s looking at a peculiar poster, the next, he’s jumped away because of a scissor almost piercing his skull. An incredulous looks graces his face, which, for once, appears astonished.

“What the fuc—”

“I wonder if they’re defensive measures….” Jekyll mumbles to himself, while holding his chin. His green eyes pan the dreary surroundings; the surrounding area is badly lit and hard to traverse. There were rats scampering around the damp premises. From what the Doctor can gauge, their Master is a peculiar case. It's unlike their former Master, whose memories float distantly and vaguely. His gaze picks up to look toward his Berserker half, whose grumbling and mucking about.

“Why the fuck does she have this shit lying around.” Hyde growls, now kicking at the scissor, it flings away and is swallowed by the giant maw of darkness that the circus curtains partially covers. 

“Beats me.” Jekyll shrugs.

Returning to the poster, Hyde grabs it off the wall and brings it close to inspect. From the looks of it, it reminded him all too much of something that’s happened, causing him to crinkled up the paper.

“What was that?” Jekyll looks over, watching him throw it into the murky abyss.

“Just garbage,” Hyde answers, “Let’s get movin’ ‘fore I get bored and regret agreeing to come with you on this stupid trip.”

The further they go, the more bizarre it becomes. Her mind scape looking more alike a circus. After some banter between a talking pumpkin ( ‘What’s this girl’s deal!?’ Hyde yelled, exasperated), they brought it along to go further into the darkness. It appeared the Jack O' Lanturn had some snark, where it bantered with Hyde, its eyes now flickered with light. A warm color threatened the edges of the darkness that dared to swallow them. 

And the darkness wasn’t inviting. The halls they traverse are dark and too similar, and it's beginning to worry the Doctor. The further they travel, Hyde swears they’re just getting lost and threatens to throw the giggling pumpkin. 

“Hold on— stop talking….” Jekyll cautions himself, whose just about to throw the pumpkin. “Shhh….I hear…something up ahead.”

“Why the hell do I hav—”

“I said, be quiet boy,” Jekyll scolds firmly, “we….we shouldn’t take this hallway.”

Distinctively, there is a sound of a knife being sharpened down the corridor. The sound is grating, since it’s being done again and again. Hyde’s about to make a comment, until something inside forces him to retreat.

“Let’s go.” He says, forcing his eyes to go the other way, away from the silhouette that dared to round the corner. 

“Okay.” 

They turn tail, going down another hallway and they’re soon consumed by the melting hall. The pumpkin abandoned. And they soon find themselves somewhere completely different.

“Where—”

Henry's briefly able see the interior, it looked fairly reminiscent of their Master's home. It's their home, but fairly dark, a faint light illuminates the hallway.

“Why are you here?” A new voice startles the duo, and when they turn around, they find an unfamiliar girl standing before them. She’s different, yet familiar, yet holds a different air compared to Lisette. Lisette….at least on the surface was brunette, and yet this girl— was distinctively dyed in blue and pink.

“I know you’re there,” The girl continues, she holds herself straight looking right at them, and yet….there’s an absence of light in her eyes. “….Assassin, Berserker, right…?”

How did this girl know? And yet, Lisette had mentioned others….so this must be….

“We wanted to learn more about you.” Jekyll replies honestly, “actually, we’re not certain how we were brought here— but it was sometime when you fell asleep, Master.”

“…I see,” The girl replies distantly, in thought, but it grows firm, “but I do not take kindly to you barging in here, it’s impolite to trudge into a girl’s personal space.”

“My deepest apologizes, we hadn’t meant any harm.” Jekyll replies with a light sigh, he's grateful Hyde's not kicking up a fuss for once, “….You’re one…… one of our Masters’, correct?”

“…I wouldn’t say yes, but technically….I am.” The girl answers, then gestures for them to follow, “we ought not stay here, if she finds out you’re here, she’ll become angry with you.” She’s already turned away from them, now walking the other way. The duo exchange a glance and follow behind her.

 “…..I feared she wouldn’t tell you, but those are….our current circumstances, I’m afraid reaching …. her….is far more difficult, we’re the ones who are usually fronting.”

“I see,” Jekyll replies, hands folded on his lap. Hyde sits next to him, crossed legged, and boots getting on the couch which Jekyll immediately hits him for. He scowls then moving his feet down to the floor. "I thank you for your honesty, Harpae, I’m relieved to get insight about our current conditions…..it’s a shame that has happened.”

“That is why, it’s never properly discussed,” the girl replies sadly, “….for her sake, I protect her……we keep her from having to endure the cruelty of the war and of….our parents. Not to say they aren’t good people, but—”

“Sounds like an excuse for shitty parents who can’t own up to shit––” Hyde cuts in with a frown. He rolls his eyes with a snort, "figures, the gall of mage families and their inhumane methods." The Berserker begins to chuckle, however, Harpae chooses to ignore his rude behavior, instead diving into what's more important. 

“…Anyway…….I’m more proficient in Elemental magic, Lisette's more better at reinforcement magic. While….Fleta…..actually, I won’t even bother with her.” 

“The spoiled one, eh?” Hyde speaks up, earning a glare from Jekyll, “so y’all can all do different shit? That’s whack!”

“Yes….you can say that’s why we were picked to represent our family, it goes way back apparently.” Harpae diligently answers, "and well, for...her, she's able too—"

With a nod, Jekyll’s head is already buzzing with possible plans for the future. It’s when the tea room begins to rumble halts his thoughts.

“Looks like we’ll be awake soon,” Harpae replies, “and it’s hard to say who’ll be fronting…..but know I’ll be willing to work with you; Lisette….it’s hard for her to trust other people.”

“That’s understandable, after all you’ve through…..” Their limbs are already becoming transparent, forms fading from this space, “I hope we get to talk more again, Master.”

“Indeed,” Harpae replies with a small smile, “I shall….we shall help you today," Her head seems to turn toward Hyde, who gives her an incredulous stare, "and behave, you!" Her Servants than vanish from the space, the darkness now consuming all again. The hum of the fire place crackles as the space now becomes quiet and tranquil once more.

 ….And when Lisette awakens, she frowns upon seeing a familiar shadow of a figure at the edge of her bed reading through some documents. She’s awfully tempted to go back to sleep, but he catches her awake, much to her chagrin.

But it’s nothing she could do, really. Strangely, she feels like….apart of her was exposed when she was sleep, but she waves it off for now.

Chapter Text

Inhaling sharply, she glares at him.

“So your name is Henry , too?”

“Indeed, it is Master—”

“I don’t wanna see you!”

The door slams on his face, causing Jekyll to inwardly sigh. Thus far he’s only met with Lisette and Harpae, but adding Fleta into the mix now added to complications. He can hear her fuming on the other side of the door which adds to his confusion. He doesn’t understand why she doesn’t like him, but he won’t allow that to deter him.

“Off to a bad start, mate?” He hears Hyde chuckle at his expense, “what, you’re gonna let a brat get her way?”

Jekyll sighs, “Of course not, but clearly she needs some time—”

“ Bah! The hell with that! ” He feels Hyde wrestle for control; there’s a phantom pressure on his wrist and he feels his hand going for his coat pocket for his Noble Phantasm. However, before Hyde can win him over, he hears footsteps coming from down the staircase. It causes them to stop and look toward the end of the hall.

“Is that you, Assassin?”

Henry stands a little straighter, upon seeing the man at the end of the hallway. It was Roman, their Master’s father; he was a military man and a nobleman. His late wife in contrast had been the one with the magical ability, and yet he’s never gotten told him anything more.

“Mr. die Heilige, it is, yes.” Jekyll watches him walk down the hall. He watches his Master’s Father take one look at him and one to the door and exudes a long sigh.

“It appears she’s locked herself in,” Jekyll said with a small frown, “although, we were getting along yesterday.”

“Is that so?” Her father asks, staring intently at her door. “What caused the change?”

“Oh, my true name shares the same first name as her twin brother.” Jekyll explains, “does she not have a good relationship with him?”

“It’s hard to say, they’re siblings, so of course they’d quarrel every now and then.” Roman replies vaguely, “but you’re a Servant, aren’t you? You should be able to get inside.”

“Well…I didn’t want to—”

“Nonsense, she is acting childish, she should know better to not be irked by a mere name.” Roman gruffly replies.

“I see…” The Doctor’s hand now holds his hands behind his back, “Now her brother, where is he now?”

“Ah, right, you haven’t met with him yet. He’s been in his bedroom, studying, presently he’ll be attending boarding school when the War begins.” Roman said, then shaking his head and walking past him. “I expect for both of you to come to my office later to discuss more in regards to the War.”

Before Jekyll could answer, Roman briskly leaves him alone in the hallway, leaving him alone. Stranded, he contemplates what to do next, he could either browse elsewhere in their home or try again with his Master. With a gentle sigh, he decides he ought to reach out toward her again. 

Peeking down at him from down the hall, a small figure quietly watches the familiar pace back and forth in front of his sister’s door. It’s been a couple of days since the new Doctor arrived to assist his twin sister.

After the fit she had with the last one (it included biting the other doctor and threatening him with scissors— that one he overheard talking with his father stating this dangerous behavior would sully his reputation), Henri didn’t know how any adult would be able to handle his sister.

And this new Doctor didn’t make him feel entirely comfortable either.

For starters, something was off about him. It wasn’t something obvious like his appearance, it was more like his nature. Call it his sixth sense, but something felt… otherworldly about him despite how normal he appeared. The longer Henri observed, the more it became more frustrating to watch, prompting him to walk toward him. It appeared the man’s instincts are keen, because he looked up at him immediately.

“Do you need some help, Doctor?”

That’s what Father told him to call him, he didn’t know his actual name. The Doctor looked a little at a loss of what to do, he looked a bit embarrassed.

“You could say that,” He titters, rubbing the back of his neck. “You must be Henri, right?”

So he knew his name, did Father tell him?

“My sister can be stubborn,” Henri looks over toward the door handle, then back to the man; a tiny smile forms. “But she does have her weakness.”

“Weaknesses?” The man looked stunned.

“Yes, come with me, I know a way into her room.” Henri beckons the man to follow after him, which he obliges and he leads him down the hallways, away from the bedrooms and toward the kitchen.

The Doctor appeared to be at a loss of words, initially, but he followed after him. Henri puts a little hop into his step, while they pass the obnoxious family portraits. The candles lining the walls illuminate their faces, making them appear more threatening than they actually are. When they round the corner, Henri glances over his shoulder toward him.

“What got her into a bad mood in the first place, Doctor?” He poses an innocent question.

The Doctor replies aptly, “Haha, for a petty reason, it seems.”

Nearing the kitchen doorway, he opens it up for the man while they walk inside. Henri blinks, puzzled, “Can I ask why?”

The Doctor chuckles, “It appears because she doesn’t like my first name.”

“Which is?” He’s a step closer to the truth.

“I cannot tell you, for certain reasons,” The Doctor tells him, but he does stretch his lips into a smile, “but it’s another name for Harry.”

Harry? At first, when he’s close to approaching the pantry closet, it doesn’t hit him until he laid eyes on the prize and brings out the box. They share the same first name?

“How do you spell yours?” Henri asks.

“With a y at the end, instead of an i like yours.” He answers honestly, “are you two not on good terms?”

“I don’t know.” Henri says, now shuffling out of the pantry closet and over to the kitchen table, and he goes to move to fetch a cake plate and fork. “It depends, with her mood and all… I never know how she’ll react next to my jokes.”

The Doctor, Henry, chuckles. “Do you tease her often?"

“Kind… of,” Henri admits, now cutting a slice out for his twin sister. She did love her sweets after all. “It’s never out of a bad place, but she acts out for whatever reason!”

“So you argue often?”

With the cake sliced, he slides the plate over to the Doctor now. Henri’s shoulders slump a little bit, “I guess, but Father breaks us apart when it gets dangerous.”

With a thoughtful hum, the Doctor understands, taking the plate swiftly. He laughs, “I’ve always heard that about siblings, I’ve never had one, but there’s someone I know whose similar.”

“Like a friend?” Henri tilts his head.

The Doctor snorts, “Something like that, we always argue– our morals are different, but we have to depend on one another, despite that.”

Henry’s side profile looks a little different in the lower light; Henri swears when he blinks his eyes flickered red for a second. He rubs his eyes, and they’re back to normal.

“Anyway, I’m going to try to coax your sister out of her room,” Henry says, “thanks for the cake.”

“Good luck, Doctor,” Henri smiles, watching him leave the kitchen, he runs up to the door frame watching that he disappeared. His footsteps nonexistent, Henri swallows hard. Squinting down the hall, the flames of the candlelight sway ominously.

Henri steadies his breath, about to turn down the other corridor, but someone down the hall catches his attention. They disappear without a trace, but the grin they wear sends shivers down his spine.

“Fleta.”

Silence.

“Fleta, please open the door.”

“No, go away, I hate you!” His Master yells indignantly, “you’re going to make fun of me like him!”

“If I was going to make fun of you, would I bring you cake?”

Silence. He’s almost worried she’s going to ignore him again, but there is shuffling behind the door and slowly the doorknob turns. He sees his Master in the crack, pouting; she’s scrutinizing him and glances between his face and the plate.

“Give it here,” She demands, opening the door further, hand outstretched.

“Please let me inside,” Henry pleads, “I’ll give you the slice then.”

“ Mrghgrh , fine!” She concedes, with a huff. The doorway creaks open and reveals one of his Masters, her room looking messier than before she began fronting.

Fleta sits at the small table in her room, kneeling close to it with Egliette. She’s speaking in hushed whispers with the doll, which stops when he sits across from her and places the plate in front of her. She gives Jekyll one look, then dives into the cake.

Egliette’s positioned at an angle, her soulless eyes looking directly at him. Jekyll glances away from her, back to Fleta whose lost in her food.

“Staring is rude,” Fleta comments in between bites, “apologize to Egliette.”

“My apologizes, Egliette.”

“It’s Queen Egliette !”

“My apologizes Queen Egliette–”

Hyde’s voice groans, rolling his eyes. “Can we stop playing house, already; this is nauseating.”

Appeasing Fleta is akin to dealing with Hyde, almost. Hyde scoffs at the comparison, waving off his hand that they’re nothing alike because Fleta’s a spoiled brat.

You’re both like children, Jekyll comments which makes Hyde shut up.

“So,” Fleta starts, taking another mouthful of cake, she chews quietly, then swallowing the piece. “You’ve already met with them? Visited?”

“Only with Harpae.” Jekyll answers, “while I’ve only spoken to Lisette like how we are now.”

“Tonight, I want you to visit,” Fleta said, now shoveling more of the cake into her mouth. “It’ll be safer that way, right? There won’t be any interference from anyone!”

“Anyone, meaning the other Masters? Or–”

“Yes, our mind’s an impenetrable force to be reckoned with,” Fleta scoffs, as if that was common knowledge, the last part of the cake disappears into her mouth. Her expression changes, shifting from arrogance to something...bloodthirsty, “Any damned mage who tries to get info on us will suffer the consequences. It’ll kill them, I’m that strong.”

Jekyll swallows hard, the places they visited before were a mess. Their mind was a dungeon of terror, if any mage tried to trespass surely they may perish if they weren’t quick witted enough.

“You’ve been there before, right?” Fleta giggles sweetly now, a sharp contrast from before. “Heheh, I don’t think that girl knows yet either, count yourself lucky, Assassin!”

“Why lucky?” Jekyll questions, his brow furrows.

“You might have had to pay the price,” Her fork clatters on the plate, “She might smash you into smithereens.”

“Realistically, that doesn’t seem possible–” Jekyll counters, now he’s confused.

“In our world, you become a mere shade of yourself,” Fleta replies, “what a better trap than ourselves, rig~ht?”

It dawns on Jekyll what she means, he can’t help but feel sick. Hyde snorts, but remains quiet during the discussion. Mage families, at it again with using their children like dolls.

“We’ll have a lot of fun tonight,” Fleta announces, “not only will I be there, but Egliette will be there too!”

“The Egg thing’s gonna be there?” Hyde almost chokes, partially astonished and at a lost of words. “Man she really is a kid.”

Fleta’s personality shifts again from sweet to dangerous, there’s a glimmer of sadism in her eyes; she responds telepathically. “ I can hear you; If you make fun of Egliette, we’re going to put you in jail. ”

Hyde snickers with a roll of his eyes. “We’ll both be there, let’s make it a date!”

Fleta’s smile grows, tenting her hands and leaning forward. “Don’t be late for the banquet then.”

Chapter Text

When the moon rises in the sky, darkness covers the land, hiding the secrets within. One by one, the lights flicker out, alerting the Servant to meet with his Master. Neither Jekyll or Hyde knew what to expect from the banquet that Fleta suggested. Before checking in with their Master, Jekyll made his rounds to carefully inspect the perimeter for potentially suspicious individuals or magical pests. 

Once finished, Jekyll returns inside, checking in with Roman first. He appeared in spirit form in the corner, watching him work in the dim light, tending to some last minute paperwork. The sour atmosphere changed when the phone rang and he was quick to pick it up, then with a low rumble began to whisper sweet nothings into the receiver. Jekyll took that cue to leave the room, departing to check in on Henri next who was fast asleep at his desk.

Jekyll carefully picks the boy up, placing him underneath the sheets of his bed and drapes his comforter across his chest. When he goes to turn off his light, his eyes fall upon some school textbooks. He deftly collects them, bookmarking the open one and goes to put it away until a book underneath catches his eye. It was a book about magic and the supernatural, upon closer inspection appeared to be theories concerning beasts of the night and how to fend against them. Although, it appeared to be by a scrapbook of information by one of those wannabe, non-mages who proclaimed themselves as paranormal investigators.

“The hell he needs that for?” Hyde scoffs, while Jekyll leafs through some of the pages, some already dogeared. “D’ya think he suspects us?”

“Possibly,” Jekyll replies back in their shared mind, “Although this could be about something else entirely…” 

“Such as?” Hyde quips, with a smug smile, “Mr. Wannabe Detective?”

“Have you not felt it?” Jekyll narrows his eyes toward Henri, inspecting the various shadows hovering over him that sways from the low light. “I thought you’d be able to sniff out fellow evil kin?”

Hyde snorts while rolling his eyes, “I ain’t some dog for your lame ass detective story! Kahaha ha!   Real ironic calling yourself a dog!”

Jekyll wrinkles his nose, then places the book back onto his shelf. “I believe we’re being watched, the magical energy is quite potent here.”

“Whoever it is, isn’t very good at masking their presence,” Hyde replies with a grunt, emphasising with a sniff. “I’ll eat them–”

Ignoring Hyde, Jekyll turns his head towards Henri and walks over to his bedside and crouches over. He inspects him, scrutinizing any traces of magic left on him. His brow furrows upon finding splotches of inhuman magic, he clicks his tongue. 

Raising to stand, Jekyll then goes switch off the light and disappears from his room, watching a dangerous smile toward them. He feels a chill goes down his spine as he relocates himself to their Master’s room. Jekyll makes a note to inspect their home later, even though he knows he shouldn’t bother getting involved with the family’s personal affairs. 

Jekyll slowly inhales, hand now hovering above her forehead. He swallows hard, inspecting his Master thoroughly for the negative energy that he felt from Henri’s bedroom. There’s hardly any on her, but he flicks away the particles that try to cling onto her. 

Closing his eyes, he focuses on what they did prior from their initial summoning and allows their form to be absorbed into their Master’s mind. In comparison to Harpae and Lisette’s worlds, Fleta’s world is made up of bright colors that readily embrace them. As Jekyll’s feet touch the grass, a gentle breeze brushes past him, filling him with a nostalgic and longing feeling. 

The breeze gently passes by him, planting a kiss upon his cheek and slips from his grasp. Fleta’s world on the surface feels akin to a fairytale, built upon fantasy and happiness and grandeur. This world, he decides, is the delusion his Master crafted from her loneliness to ward off the strained tension in her home. 

“You kno– Hyde?” Jekyll’s brows raise, not seeing him anywhere. He was lost in a hedge maze, this was great. Wonderful. They were separated. 

“ Hyde ?” Jekyll tests their telepathic connection instead, which earns him a grunt. “Thank heavens! Where in blazes are you!?”

“Beats me, genius.” Hyde snorts, “I’m a little busy here–– no one gives a shit!”

Jekyll blinks, brows furrow. “ Excuse me.” 

“Not you, god, I thought you were squeaky and annoying but this thing is–– ow! Ow! Cut that shit out!” Hyde voice turns shrill with frustration.

“I’m confused, but are you alright?” Jekyll asks in concern. “Where are you?”

“Somewhere dark, I’m being suffocated by that brat’s dolls.” Hyde groans, distracted. “Listen here you creepy ass lookin’ thing, I ain’t––” 

“Dolls?” Jekyll asks, but he cringes when hearing a shriek. “Wait– Hyde tell me what’s going on!”

“Urgh! I’ll meet up with you! Just locate the damn brat!” Hyde barks then cuts their connection, leaving Jekyll at a loss of what to do. 

After some pacing, Jekyll does what any Servant would do and climbs atop the hedges. He sprints toward the castle overlooking the field. There’s numerous strange attractions here, which he mentally notes: large chess board pieces, pumpkins–  numerous , and he’s caught off guard by a wretched odor causing him to nearly fall into the maze again. 

Before going to the castle entrance he takes a detour to locate the charred smell. When he lands into the section of the maze, he’s met with a bonfire of a scarecrow with some pumpkins crowded around. When he approaches, they all turn toward him in unison– they’re all Jack O' Lantern’s carved with a wicked smiles in the fire light.

“That’s the Queen’s pet.” says one. 

“It’s the King’s enemy!” says another. 

“What do you think he’s here for?” A third questions. 

He doesn’t answer them, but their voices remind him of the pumpkin they met in Lisette’s crafted world. Jekyll feels his stomach churn, then he backs away when the hoard of pumpkins begin to hop closer to him. He retreats back to the top and heads to where his Master is. 

Faintly he hears the pumpkin’s voices chorus: “Long live the King! Long live the King!”

It doesn’t take him long to reach the end of the maze, and he lands gracefully. When the entranceway comes into view, his gaze falls upon a girl with flaxen hair, dolled up in pink. It is exactly how Fleta described to him earlier, over their little tea party– where it more so Fleta stuffing her face and him just humoring her. She gives him a once over, then grimaces a bit. 

“You’re so plain,” Her insult smoothly rolls off her lips, disinterest clear in her green eyes. She sighs with a shake of her head, “if only you were a prince .” 

Jekyll doesn’t say anything, instead rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly while approaching her. 

“I’m glad you’re on time though,” Fleta’s appears pleased, grinning. “ If not, I would have ordered to have your head lopped off!” 

Jekyll would laugh this off if this wasn’t Fleta. But he does not say a word, because he knows Fleta’s completely serious despite her tone being calm. Jekyll’s broken from his thoughts after hearing her clear her throat. 

“Where’s Berserker?” Fleta asks, with a frown.

“We got separated upon entering, he told me he’d meet up with us.” Jekyll explains. 

Fleta’s expression scrunches up into a scowl, lips taut into a frown. “How dare he!”

“I’m not exactly––” 

“Silence! I did not permit you to speak!” Fleta shouts indignantly with a stomp of her foot. “Are you able to contact him?"

Jekyll tries tapping on their mental connection again, but he’s met with fuzz. He shakes his head, causing Fleta to sigh in exasperation. She then makes a come hither too motion to Jekyll and he follows behind to one of the ornate ceramic benches sat underneath the canopy of trees. His Master– this one anyway, appeared to be in a bad mood, so he doubts they would be able to progress any further because of it. Fleta… appeared to be an explosive personality, sweet one moment, yet dangerous the next. Lisette apparently was similar, yet not as moody according to what Harpae told him the first day. Harpae appeared to be mild mannered, the most put together– but Jekyll suspects not entirely. 

It takes forever while awaiting Hyde’s arrival. Fleta kicked her feet on the bench idly, watching the entrance of the maze like a hawk. At some she broke the ice between them, and began fussing, pressing Jekyll for small talk which he complied with. Shouting from nearby ceased their conversation, and Fleta was quick to jump to her feet. There, at the entrance revealed Hyde, who appeared a little beat up and bruised. Queen Egliete was with him, covered in leaves and dirt. Fleta loudly gasped, then pointed at him, angry.

“How dare you treat the Queen, when she’s done nothing but begrudgingly helping your misguided self out?!” Fleta accused, “ you should her more gently, more carefully!”

Egliette doesn’t say a word, while Hyde rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

Somehow loosening from his hold, Egliette spun about like a top and slapped him across the head several times which caused him to almost drop her. However, she landed back gracefully into Jekyll’s arms.

“Doctor, I fear for his moronic behavior, he has no manners and ought to be punished.” Egliette stated, causing Jekyll to jump in surprise.

“Yes, clearly he does not possess any high intellect like me!” Fleta added in, now stomping her feet. “You can stay out here like a dog and patrol!”

“The hell ya think you’re talking to, you brat?!” Hyde shouted back, now pointing back at her. “ s’no way in hell im gonna be just your guard dog!”

“Silence!” Egliette squeaks, now waving her arms at him. “You are not making a good impression. Fleta, I fear he would not make a good guard dog either, he’s got no common sense!”

Fleta snickers, wearing a smug smile. “You’re right, Queen Egliette! So instead, you can stay out here and watch out for the Pumpkin King!”

Hyde scowls, annoyed, now crossing his arms. “And if I don’t?”

“Please, all of you, this is not getting us anywhere.” Jekyll sighs, “it’d be best to communicate inside, correct?”

“I’m in agreement with the doctor, this annoying prattle is making me lose my own sense as well.” Egliette huffs, now turning his arm to the door. “Onward.”

Fleta and Hyde lock eyes and hmph in unison. The princess of this world approaches the double doors and whispers the secret password allowing them access. When they enter, the manor is sparkling and bright, unlike the reality of the Master’s true home. They follow Fleta up the grandiose staircase and into the dining room where two other girls sit.

One is familiar, adorned in blue, who sits drinking a cup of tea. The other girl is not; she’s clothed in white and purple and appears to be toying with her food but catches sight of them first.

“So the brat’s back,” the one in purple remarks, “what took so long, did ya get lost?”

“It wasn’t me!” Fleta scowls, grinding her teeth, she points at Hyde. “it was this buffoon here!”

“Maybe you’re just slow like him!” The rude girl laughs at Fleta’s expense.

“Lisette, behave now.” The familiar girl, Harpae scolds lightly while she puts down her tea cup.

Lisette meanwhile slouches down in her chair, narrowing her eyes toward Jekyll and Hyde.

“You should be grateful I’m holding this meeting!” Fleta scoffs, plopping into a chair that’s far away from Lisette. “Assassin, sit next to me.”

Jekyll obliges, now placing Queen Egliette into her own chair and she situated herself out. When Hyde goes to approach, Fleta shooed him away with a grimace and a look that could kill. Hyde meanwhile lingered near Lisette’s seat, but before he was able to sit a scissor just about sliced off one of his fingers.

“Sit somewhere else, Berserker.” Lisette sneered, “next to Harpae.”

Grumbling, Hyde did what was commanded and plopped down next to Harpae, leaning back in his chair. Harpae paid him no mind, now looking up from her cup of tea. 

“I am surprised, Fleta, you’ve called us all here when you had no interest in the beginning.” Harpae said, now placing it down on the saucer. “What has changed?”

“Kihihi! Perhaps the brat got jealous of the attention we got?” Lisette giggles, watching Fleta’s gaze darken. “Just taking some cake and she’s already sold! How childish!”

“Shut up, you bully!” Fleta cried, slamming her fists on the table, causing the plates to clatter. “It wasn’t for something as shallow as that.”

Harpae and Lisette exchange a glance, causing Fleta to pout. Egliette adjusts herself in her chair and speaks up in her stead.

“It is because of a proposal we have been given from the Pumpkin King.” Egliette explains, “he’s aware of what we’ve been up to–”

Hyde perks up, with an amused expression. “The Pumpkin King? Whose that, another of your make believe friends––” 

“Of course not, you fool.” Egliette cuts in while shaking her head, squeaking. “He’s always watching, he was not born of the girl’s fractured mind.”

Jekyll notes of how both Harpae and Lisette’s expressions darkened at the mentioning of this so called Pumpkin King. He remains quiet, while Egliette clears her voice again. 

“The Pumpkin King is an alias of a being who we’re all hostile toward.” Egliette explains, “we do not know his name, but we’re well aware that he is malicious. We’ve been given a proposal for power, however, should we win the war. If not, than he shall take all that we have.”

“He is an abomination, a demonic entity,” Harpae further explains, sighing. “We’ve been at odds with him ever since our childhood... “

“That cannot be good,” Jekyll replies with a frown, “I believe we’ve sensed him before coming here.”

“He enjoys being a tease,” Fleta scoffs, “Just like Henri–  he enjoys belittling me! Of us!”

“Lately he’s been breaking my mirrors…” Lisette grumbles, “and he’s made something horrific.”

Hyde quirks a brow, indifferent. “And we should care why?”

“It concerns her and if he steals it…!” Lisette shouts and raises from her seat and slams her hands onto the table, causing the silverware to clatter. 

“Oh… I remember from our first meeting, it is your Pocket Mirror, correct?” Jekyll speaks up, brow knitting in concern, “a precious memento from your Mother, who your original self holds onto..”

“Indeed, I thought he would not interfere once we began preparations...but it appears he’s stubborn as ever,” Harpae adds. “He desires our Pocket Mirror, but we still do not know the full truth.”

“So she shared a connection with him?” Jekyll asks, leaning forward in his seat.

“Apparently so, he’s appeared before us time and time again to fork over our Pocket Mirror!” Fleta replies with a huff, “As if he can have something that precious!”

“The Pumpkin King is merely a moniker we’ve given him, we have not uncovered his name.” Harpae continues, “...but Lisette, what did you see?”

All eyes fall onto Lisette, who has become quiet. She grinds her teeth together, crumbling the tablecloth between her fingers. “A monster…” Lisette trails off, uncharecterstically solemn, “she looks… just like…”

“Just like Miss Goldia…?” Jekyll inquires.

“A wretched, pathetic excuse of imitation of her!” Lisette shouts, and grinds her teeth together, “I’ll kill that disgrace.” 

“So let me get this straight,” Hyde cuts in, leaning back in his chair; he sounds bored of the conversation. “Demon wants power, but is scapegoating you to further his means. Why the hell is that Pocket Mirror so special anyway, to go to that length?”

“It is not so different from the two of us, Hyde.” Jekyll answers with a shake of his head, “Did you not understand the last time Harpae explained their situation?” 

“Nope, not really,” Hyde replies back.

“Obviously the demon desires for more power, and our Master is essential to his plans. We did too in life, we got drunk from the power we gained.” Jekyll explains with a sigh, his brows furrows a bit. “Master, what is it that you desire from the Grail.”

The three of them fall silent, refusing to look at one another. 

“Oh! I see!” Hyde now leans forward, with a grin, “you lot all got your own ambitions, eh? I’m not surprised! ” 

While Hyde laughs raucously at the reveal, Jekyll merely sighs once more. Fleta glowers at Hyde, grinding her teeth and throws a fork at his head. It misses because of his quick reflexes and his laughter ceases, his gaze darkens. They have a stare down, and before a fight erupts Egliette slams her arms on the table, causing an ear piercing squeaking sound making them both recoil. 

“Cease your squabbling, I grow tired of your childishness,” Egliettes yells, giving a disapproving look toward both Fleta and Hyde. “It is normal to have human desires, yes? Thus makes sense for these three, but I speak for the three of them wish for good health of that girl.” 

“Where is she, anyway?” Jekyll inquires, turning toward Egliette, “Goldia?”

“That no good for nothing–” Fleta starts. 

“Is currently sleeping, wrapped within her own world.” Harpae adds. 

“Navigating there is a pain in the ass, she has not budged, nor cares for what occurs in the real world. She’s locked in a fantasy, and like another lazy girl, refuses to come forth.” Lisette replies promptly, with a huff, now plopping back in her seat. “She’s got the Pocket Mirror too, none of us have been able to take it from her and end this stupid farce.”

Jekyll recognizes the melancholy in Lisette’s words, then frowns lightly. 

“Thus why we must move on without her,” Harpae adds solemnly. “It’s no use, which is why we should formulate a plan of action against our opponents.” 

With a snap of her fingers, Fleta clears the long table of the barely touched food and silverware. Documentations spread across the long dining table, each with notes concerning their opponents. 

“Before we begin… what about that imitation you mentioned before?” Jekyll inquires. 

“She calls herself Enjel.” Lisette promptly replies, a scowl mars her face. “And she’s a parasite, trying to infiltrate Goldia’s haven.”

Jekyll doesn’t ask anymore when they begin their pretend war counsel session. He glances over to Hyde, who doesn’t appear interested in the discussion and has gone back to leaning back in his seat, picking at his teeth. 

Jekyll absorbs the information for the both of them, while they discuss info concerning the six other Masters and Servants. During the discussion, he finds himself looking toward Lisette once more, whose arguing with Fleta again and he cannot help but sigh as Egliette ceases it with her commanding voice. 

His mind wanders to their Master, the original personality, and secretly hopes they’ll be able to win the war to help ensure a future for her. 

Their meeting goes for an eternity, but as the world crumbles again, Jekyll feels himself slipping from the Fleta’s world.  Their Master’s body ejects his spiritual form and he feels like he’s waking from a dream. A long dream. It’s been a long time since he’s felt exhausted, but he shakes that off and goes to sit at his Master’s desk in the meantime. 

Jekyll goes over some of the material on his Master’s desk, before realizing something is missing. It doesn’t hit him, until he realizes what.

Hyde is missing. Hyde is missing?

A flurry of emotions blossom in Jekyll’s chest, causing him to jump from the desk chair and approach his Master’s bedside again. He reaches for her forehead again, trying to initiate the same command to enter her mind but some magical force slaps his hand away. 

Did his Master have some last minute information she wanted to divulge to Hyde? Jekyll doesn’t know, he won’t know until his other self returns. A paranoid feeling wells up in his chest and he knows something isn’t right. He doesn’t know any magecraft to help tempt out that terrible man, or pull him out because this is all new to him. 

Biting his bottom lip, Jekyll exits his Master’s bedroom to search for information concerning his Master’s mother: Elise die Heilige. Surely anything from her could aid him against this fight against this thorn in their side.

Hyde awakens in darkness. 

The darkness is unusual, because it isn’t familiar like the one he shares with Jekyll. There’s a biting chill here, causing him to frown. He curses loudly, not caring for those who might hear. If only their summoning wasn’t botched, if only if they were at their full power– then power, they’d be able to fight against this evil. 

It stinks of evil, causing Hyde to wrinkle his nose in disgust. While he loved his fair share of committing atrocious deeds, this potent smell annoyed him immensely. He spits on it, out of sheer spite. It is not true freedom, like he wanted, because he knows he’s trapped by something . It kept him back while Jekyll was ejected back into the physical world.

For awhile, he feels himself floating aimlessly. Gravity suddenly pulls him and he falls fast through the darkness– for how long, he’s unaware but it sucks when his head slams through glass– a mirror? And another, and another, and Hyde gets fed up and attempts rotating his body and spins. When he regains control of his body and Hyde flips away and lands on some kind of ground. 

He finds himself stumble and feels his foot kick through something. Lowering his gaze, he sees a pumpkin– the dumb thing looks like it’s smiling at him and he immediately kicks it off. Glancing up, there’s a whole assortment of pumpkins, and they’re all wordlessly looking at him. 

“My, my , seems like you’re capable after all!” A voice echoes around him, it sounds like Henri– but it causing him to tense. “Well done!”

“Stop bein’ a coward and face me.” Hyde yells into the empty abyss, with a wolfish grin. “What do you want?”

“Oh...I only want to chat…” 

Spinning around, Hyde catches a glimpse of a blur who materializes in a comfortable chair. The boy appears young, but Hyde isn’t fooled by his appearance at all. It’s a disguise, another skin, to whatever laid underneath. 

Hyde cocks his head to the side, grinning. “The Pumpkin King, eh?”

“Bingo!” He sings, releasing confetti all around Hyde. “Berserker’s an apt name for a beast like you.” 

“Out with it, you damned fool!” Hyde yells, now summoning forth his knife and spinning it between his fingers. “ You’re wasting my time.”

“After I took the time to extract you?” The Pumpkin King looks hurt almost, before he laughs at him. “You’re sharper than I took you for!”

Hyde growls at him, causing the boy to shake his head. He leans forward in his chair, now smiling, revealing his sharp teeth.

“I am here to offer you a deal, Edward Hyde, in place of those useless girls.” 

Chapter Text

The moment the demon proposes to Hyde, the Berserker throws back his head in laughter. It is a boisterous, ear bleeding one that echoes in the vacuum space. To Hyde, it was like the Strange Boy proposed the funniest joke in the universe.

The funniest part is the demon joins him in laughter, yet there isn’t a hint of amusement. It is more of an empty sound; the demon cackles, yet it is devoid of emotion. Large swords materialize without a voiced command and swing down. The Berserker instinctively reacts, avoiding the slice by the skin of his teeth. They chase after Hyde, making poor attempts to hack and slash at him, but it is in vain because he backflips onto one, uses the flat part of the blade like a springboard to jump high to aim to smash in the boy’s head.

That also is in vain, due to metal wire catching him, it snakes around Hyde’s limbs and neck. They become taut, threatening to suffocate him which causes the Berserker to tsk. 

“I thought it’d be easier to control you, but you’re an imbecile.” The demon says matter of factly and he peers up at the strung up Hyde from his chair, eerie smile weirdly in place. “...Did you not hear a word I said?”

Hyde chokes because of the wire, but he can’t help but begin to laugh at the demon again. His laughter ends abruptly, with a slight wheeze. 

“A deal.” Hyde deadpans, his overly excited mood dissipated quickly. “And why the hell would you want me to help you?”

“Now, there would not be any fun telling you that!” The demon replies, there’s a snap of his fingers and confetti rains upon Hyde. “But it would work in your favor~ for your greatest desire!”

That got Hyde to shut up, for a minute. His greatest desire is killing Jekyll for good and taking control of their body for good– yet, Hyde isn’t foolish enough to believe those empty words. But it wasn’t long that the blond shoots the boy a condescending smile.

“Who needs a deal with a demon when I could get that good ole Grail, huh? It hasn’t even started yet!” Hyde said as he wriggles in the wire that digs into his skin. 

Although the nameless boy smiles, Hyde observes it seems to have tightened slightly. He must have struck a nerve.

“...But what if it doesn’t comply with your request? Hm~? The rumors of the Grail are just hearsay. I could give you a bonafide reason to work under me.” The boy retorts, smile spreading a bit bigger.

Normally, Hyde wasn’t one to think hard about matters that involved making decisions, he usually left that to Jekyll. But he finds him back come back to the boy’s proposal, it feels akin to the spots he’s left the Doctor in, and Hyde hates that. 

The boy continues on, “It could come true, just like that!”

Another rain of confetti falls over the Berserker, causing the blond to wildly thrash about in the wire. The sound of a party horn pierced his ears, it was joyful– yet a spiteful sound. He hated it.

“Besides, I’m the one whose trapped you here, you won’t be able to leave without my help.” The boy continues on smoothly, he’s confident. 

Hyde meanwhile wrinkles his nose, in the middle of suppressing a yawn to the demon’s long strewn out proposal, an ultimatum apparently. He’s bored, and makes an attempt to thrash again causing for the demon to shake his head. When the momentum of the wire slows, before he could react they disappear around him. Hyde falls with a loud thud and rolls over, now looking at the demon from upside down.

“Did ya grovel at the last person ya tried to tempt? Because this is awfully pathetic yet amusing to me.” Hyde replies plainly, which contradicts his current mood, he raises an eyebrow at him. “But it's still boring– this got lame pretty fast and I want out..”

“You say this yet remember that you have no power here.” The strange boy replies smugly. “Silly, stupid, Edward Hyde– I grow tired of your foolishness.”

Hyde lifts himself off the ground, yet the moment he does something round shoots at him from his peripheral vision. He dodges in time and sees what it was: a smashed pumpkin. He was only distracted a second and he was immediately overwhelmed by an even larger one, ramming him away from the strange boy and thrown into the abyss. As he falls, he catches a glimpse of what was underneath the boy’s fringe– a singular, golden eye. 

“I won’t allow you to escape, but I will give you a way out.” Although he’s falling again, the voice of the demon reverberates around him, “Retrieve what is precious to those girls, and I’ll consider kicking you out of here.”

He’s enveloped in darkness once more, it feels instantaneous when he finally lands. There is a chill in the air, and more importantly, he’s landed on something warm and long. Before he can properly react, he’s launched into glass and it cracks. There’s a rush of air, and a crackling sound that hints him in something has broken. More importantly, when he opens his eyes properly he spots something shiny in the peripheral.

Several golden scissors are affixed into his clothes, holding him there akin to thumb tacks to paper. It’s laughable, because he easily shrugs them off and they clatter to the floor. A gasp cues him to look up at the person who rudely tried to pin him there. 

Lisette stares at him in silence, expression unreadable.

“The hell ya lookin’ at? Huh? And here I thought–” Hyde’s cut off again by a scissor thrown at him, intending to enter his mouth. He gasps in mock horror. “...Now, that isn’t very nice!” 

“You’re still here.” Lisette replies matter of factly, she begins to frown. “Why are you still here– you aren’t supposed to be.”

Hyde shrugs, “beats me, that funny looking kid locked me in here.”

“Funny looking…” Lisette trails off, but it dawns on who he meant. Her face darkens, looking at him grimly. “You met that conniving demon?”

“Guilty as charged!” Hyde announced with a chuckle; another scissor is thrown at him which he barely dodges. “It’s not like anything happened–”

“But something did happen, you dumbass.” Lisette growls, now gesturing to the area they’re now in. “The world has changed.”

Moving away from the cracked mirror, Hyde glanced around– they were in a long corridor with mirrors. He looks back to her, with a raised brow. “Yeah, no shit– I was being thrown around like a rag doll.”

Lisette gives an exasperated sigh, shaking her head. She starts walking ahead of him down the mirror lane, leaving him behind.

“Hey wait!” Hyde runs after her, “where the hell are you going?”

“To her, I need to check up on her.” Lisette asserts as she walks faster, “if you’re going to be a hindrance, go off and die then.”

Hyde watches Lisette walk down the hall and approach a mirror. There is no reflection there, but she phases through the glass like it was nothing. He runs up to catch up, only to crash into the glass. She looks back through the cracks to glance at him, and smirks at his misfortune.

“If you’re so eager to help then prove your worth, Berserker.” Lisette replies coldly, “ deal with the reflections of this hall…and search for a mirror without reflection.”

Lisette disappears, leaving Hyde clueless. Reflection this, reflection that– this was too much to think about. As if on cue, footsteps approach from behind him causing him to twirl around. He watches in amazement as shadows seep from the frames, solidifying into shadow figures; color quickly dyes them and he stands before an army of Lisettes. 

“Awh, shit, here we go again.” Hyde mutters, and goes to reach for his knife. However, it isn’t there, causing him to groan. He must have dropped it when everything went haywire, so he might have to brute force this. But despite wanting to flex his muscles, he decides to turn tail instead and runs down the hall opposite of them. 

Hyde flies down the hall, glancing at the mirror reflections – instead of his own, there was a Lisette set to occupy it. Behind him the Lisette copies marched after him, their heels clacking in unison. Their giggles and squeals reverberate down the hall, giving Hyde a headache. He takes a sharp turn down the hall and glances at one of the mirrors and purple eyes and sharp teeth stare back at him. 

“As much as I love all this attention!” Hyde announces over his shoulder, “I’ve no time for you!”

Hyde passes by a mirror and there isn’t a reflection. He skids to a stop and sharply turns around and makes an attempt to dive into it. At that moment, he feels his body phase through the r mirror without reflection, stumbling through. The moment his boots touch the floor, Hyde’s choked by his collar by multiple hands that attempt to drag him back. 

Hyde groans and attempts to shake them off, which is more difficult than expected. He sharply inhales, then lets out a shrill shriek which reverberates around him. He hears his enemies recoil from the sound, a cacophony of voices shrieking in protest and he thrusts his body forward to run through the long corridor and not look back.

Hyde’s heart’s wildly thumping in his chest, it's akin to a wild animal attempting to escape from its cage. A bright light awaits him at the end of the hall, but it persists to elude him. The faster he runs, the further back the light becomes. 

“This is pissing me off!” Hyde yells in frustration, lets out a sharp inhale, then focuses mana into his legs. He takes off like a bullet, flinging himself into the maw of light that briefly embraces him. He tumbles on cold wooden floors, head thwacking onto what he presumes to be a wall. 

When Hyde opens his eyes, he’s taken aback by the sheer difference in atmosphere. The area he tumbled into is peaceful– a long hallway stretches forth, lined with windows where light gently shines through. He picks himself up, dusts himself off and doesn’t heed the large dent he made in the wall. The space feels reminiscent of their Master’s home, but none of the candles on the walls are lit. 

It's oddly quiet too, which prompts him to move forward. Upon turning a corner, he sees a door at the end of the hall and sees the path diverge. Upon approaching the door, he jingles the knob and gets no answer and he follows the path further into the hall and it feels like the hall is repeating.

Hyde repeats this process twice more, and by the time he gets near the end he kicks over a chair and screams.

“Where the hell did she go!?” The chair tumbles into a wall, into one of the end tables with flowers on it. He makes a quick glance and watches long blond hair disappear down a corridor and he sprints toward it. “Wait, damn it!”

By the time he gets there, he’s met with an empty hall and lone door. Without thinking, he runs down and tears the door open and immediately falls into darkness. 

“Shit!” He yells now spiraling down into a vast empty void. He catches a glimpse of something blond and twists his body to head toward it. “Lisetttttte!” 

By the time his body reaches hers, he notes that she’s unconscious and before he says a cursed word– a sharp pain shoots through his head. He’s been bashed in, only catching a glimpse of something golden and sharp– an annoying giggle echoes around him as he too loses consciousness. 

Her day is akin to any other day: idyllic and carefree. She languidly moves off her bed, and peruses through some books on her bookshelf that details various stories that she hasn’t yet read.

Her finger pauses on the spine of a specific one; it’s a classic book detailing a peculiar case. Before she’s able to decide if she wants to read it, the girl hears a crash outside of her bedroom door which causes her shoulders to jump. 

The door knob begins to move erratically, while the door threatens to move open causing for the girl to pale. She flies to the door, holding it closed with all her might. 

Too frightened to move, she keeps the doorknob still unable to unlock. A beat passes and the doorknob stops moving altogether. Hesitantly, she backs away from the door causing her to gulp.

The moment she turns away, someone knocks thrice on the door. She spins around and goes to the door– and unlocks it and there stands a girl dressed in black and gold, whose eyes are colored by the sun itself. 

She’s bright and warm, they’re nearly identical in appearance. 

“You came.” said the one girl, she shares the body’s outward appearance. 

“I did, sorry it took so long.” said the other, who smiles, yet her eyes do not. “Let me show you somewhere fun.”

The brunette girl takes the ebony haired girl’s hair, then disappears into the void, leaving the room’s door open slightly ajar. The crumpled, unconscious forms of Hyde and Lisette inches before the door frame. 

No matter the information, everything Jekyll’s gone through has been utterly useless. He’s checked the library, Roman’s bedroom, his Master’s room and Henri’s rooms. He accidentally walked into something… unfortunate in his Master’s father’s room– but went about his business while in spirit form. He retrieved some things from Henri’s room regarding the notes he wrote down in a journal in one of his desk draws that might have to do with the demon in question while the books in the library were mostly about the military and history, nothing relevant to his current interests.

All that was left was Roman’s study– it contained various archaic tomes and documents he noticed from previous days. Jekyll enters the study quietly, closing the door behind him. He moves the scarce amount of books and documents from the previous rooms and laid them on the desk.

Now that he was here, he wasn’t sure of where to start. The first would be Roman’s laptop that sat on the desk, but he couldn’t since he didn't know the password so he opted to search the documents inside the drawers instead. 

There isn’t anything interesting inside, aside from the scandalous amount of love letters between Roman and someone he’s obviously having an affair with. Not that it matters, because his wife is dead and the man’s a widower but Jekyll knows how it feels because he isn’t innocent either. When he reaches the bottom, he finds a book about Parenting 101 which is ironic considering Roman treats his children as pawns.

He shuts the drawer quietly, lifts his gaze back toward the bookshelf. There, on one of the shelves, there is an empty spot and Jekyll internally slaps his forehead for not noticing it earlier. After making a mental note to put the book back, the Servant strides forward and slides the book into the empty spot. A mechanism by the bookshelf clicks, and he steps back, marveling at it while it groans open to reveal a secret room. There’s a short corridor inside, with another wooden door and he heads toward it.

The wooden door easily opens, creaking open with a shrill squeak like it hasn’t in years. When he steps through the threshold, he enters a tiny room with an empty bed and messy desk. An envelope atop the mess catches his attention and he opens it.

Jekyll’s eyes widen, because it’s a letter from Elise to Goldia. The letter is crumpled, which makes him suspect she’s already read it and became frustrated by the truth. When he turns the letter over, his brow raise at the incantations of spells scrawled haphazardly on the back. They’re warding spells– and from what he can make out they’re supposed to repel the demon who she originally contracted with. There are also Runes too toward the bottom where there are dark splotches of red sprinkled there.

Inhaling deeply, he carefully puts the letter back into the envelope and sets it back onto the desk. Jekyll sharply turns and engraves the spells and runes to memory returning back to Roman’s office, fluidly removing the book from the shelf and placing it back into the drawer.

The door creaks open, causing Jekyll to jump and he sees a small silhouette. 

“Doctor?” Henri calls with a yawn, “What are you doing in Father’s office?”

Jekyll can’t tell Henri because he’s innocent of the War Business, it’s a personal affair, but the boy already expressed concern for her well being. He smooths away any looks of distress and smiles and steps forward.

“Your Father said I could look into his office at materials that could potentially help your sister.” Jekyll replies easily, because it was true, mostly. But it wasn’t for her condition but on the magical texts she could use to fight.

“Is that why you were in my room too?” Henri asks nonchalantly, and it makes Jekyll briefly tense. “I thought you were here for my sister, not me too.”

They lapse into silence, but he watches Henri shrug his shoulders.

“You know, I’m not involved with whatever Father’s planning for Goldia, but I’m aware we aren’t like regular families. Mother taught us a lot of things before she passed away.” Henri continues, “And… Father isn’t really good at being subtle either.” 

“I see.” Jekyll wasn’t aware of this, but he understands– those not involved in the war should stay out. 

“I’m sensitive to magic and otherworldly things.” Henri explains, “And the moment since you arrived, I became suspicious– the last doctor who came to help out my sister wasn’t a mage or whatever you are.”

So both twins possess magical abilities , Jekyll mentally notes. He was wondering why Roman didn’t bother to tell him, but it could be because Goldia possessed more talent or was first born. 

“You’re correct with your assessment.” Jekyll confirms, “I’m not your sister’s Doctor, but her Servant– a magical familiar.” 

“So that’s why you felt weird to me, you feel a lot different compared to the other thing roaming around the house.” Henri said, and that makes Jekyll stiffen.

“Other thing?” Jekyll blinks, but he steps forward and remembers the dark energy surrounding Henri’s bedroom and the phantom eyes peering at him. “Have you met with it?”

“The demon?” Henri blankly stares at him, but slowly nods. “It visited earlier tonight, but it’s become more frequent since you came around, Doctor.” 

Jekyll swallows heavily, feeling a rock in the pit of his stomach. “Please tell me you haven’t engaged with–”

“No.” Henri flatly declares, with a shake of his head. “There’s a reason why I had all that bogus supernatural books in my bedroom. I’ve been trying to expel it, get rid of it.”

“Has it tried to tempt you?” Jekyll asks with concern, which Henri nods his head to and it causes his pulse to quicken. “With what?”

“Hopes of grandeur, wealth– which we already have, promises that could end up empty but I know it wants something and I’ve seen it wandering close to my sister’s door.” Henri explains then taps his chin. “Wanted me to participate in the thing Goldia’s involved in too, but I can’t do what Mother did, that isn’t me. Sure I might be a little envious of all the attention Goldia’s getting but it’s also been hurting her like it did my Mother and I don’t want ....” To lose her too–  it goes unsaid. 

Henri trails off and Jekyll’s already forming a plan in his head and meets the boy by the entrance of the door. 

“Henri.” Jekyll said his name firmly, causing him to look up. “Are you able to cast magic?”

“Uh– yes, why?” Henri asks, a flash of bemusement crosses his face.

“Your sister’s in trouble,” Jekyll replies truthfully, “And it has to do with the demon, can you help me?”

A flurry of emotions passes the boy’s face– concern, then anger and it simmers down into something firm with determination. “Of course, just tell me what to do.”

With a smile, Jekyll leads them down the hall to confront the die Heilge family’s demons. 

The world shifts, it causes Harpae to stumble into surfaces that weren’t there before. Her forehead creases, while trying to ignore the slight stinging from bumping into furniture that wasn’t there before. 

She makes her way upstairs, where her bedroom is–  where the doors to the others are and it’s taking longer than usual. Harpae inwardly curses and hugs the wall, gasping about for the door to the elevator inside. 

Then, to her left, she hears a commotion and she spins on her heel. There are loud footsteps clattering against the wooden tiles and it makes her brow furrow. 

“Harpaeeeee!” Fleta’s shrill wail cuts in, causing Harpae to to stiffen. 

The girl practically crashes into her, right into her shoulders and she awkwardly moves her arms to fasten themselves around her shoulders. Distantly, there’s another pair of footsteps– light and composed, barely making a noise.

“Miss Harpae.” Jekyll calls which helps her relax. “We’ve been looking for you.” 

“Assassin, you’re back?” Harpae asks in brief bewilderment. “What’s going on?”

“Trouble.” Jekyll replies, “Have you seen Berserker, or Lisette?”

“I thought he left with you?” Harpae asks, brows raised. 

“It didn’t go as planned, unfortunately.” Jekyll sighs, “when I left, something kept him back.”

The Demon , Harpae thinks and a shiver runs down her spine. 

“We couldn’t find either!” Fleta cries, “An- And Goldia, she isn’t––” 

– Isn’t in her room Fleta’s urgency and concerned words seemed to imply. . All color disappears from Harpae’s normally composed face and dread creeps up her spine.

“Do you know where Enjel is?” Jekyll asks, “If she’s working under the Pumpkin King, she too may have a world here.”

Harpae isn’t sure how that’s possible, but given how unpredictable the demon is she wouldn’t put it past him either. 

“Alright.” Harpae’s voice attempts to steady, “We should go together then, we have more numbers against them too.”

Fleta’s mood changes at a drop of the hat, “Yeah! They won’t know what hit them! Come on– I know the way to where our worlds connect!”

Before she call toward their youngest, Fleta’s already out of her grasp and heading to the elevator. Harpae lets out a fond sigh, and she hears Jekyll’s light steps walk in pace with hers. When they reach the elevator, it opens with a ding and they enter in a single file line. 

When the door shuts, the gears shift and lets out a wheeze and it ascends into nothingness.

“By the way, Assassin.” Fleta starts, there’s a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. “How’d you get back in anyway, you said you couldn’t get back in?”

“Your brother helped me–” Jekyll starts.

“HENRI?” Fleta shouts, spitting the name out like venom, scowling. “Why’d he help you out?”

“Because he’s concerned for you.” Jekyll replies gently, causing the blond to huff.

“You didn’t consider he’s in league with the demon?” Fleta accuses with a growl, “How stupid can you be!?”

Harpae doesn’t say a word, but she hears the Doctor sigh. 

“He possesses potential to be a mage.” Jekyll said, uncharacteristically stern.  “He helped me break through whatever the demon did to block my entry, but also help snuff out the demonic energy leaking through the flimsy protective barrier you put up.”

That shuts up Fleta, she sputters and her anger simmers out. 

“Your mother– I found the letter she left for you.” Jekyll continues, which caused Harpae to jump. “She left warding spells and runes to help to potentially expel it. Your brother helped place them inside your room too.”

Harpae nods wordless, but feels something in her chest tug. She’s always personally had a neutral relationship with Henri– he was always callous with her, because he knew she wasn't Goldia. She’d never be Goldia – ever, and he had even worse ties with Fleta and Lisette who fought with him constantly. But knowing he went out of his way to help them– all of them, to some extent, makes her hopeful.

The elevator abruptly stops, opening to her bedroom and to the doorways laid behind. There’s a rough tug to her hand, Fleta probably – and they stomp into the bedroom. Jekyll follows quietly behind them and they go through the doors and it isn’t long till they fall into nothingness.

They begin their descent downward to the crossroads, falling quietly into its depths. Harpae feels an arm around her waist and she hears Fleta squeak in protest. 

“W-What are you doing!?” Fleta squeaks. 

“Holding onto you both.” Jekyll answers calmly, tightening his hold and Harpae feels the warmth course through her. “I don’t want you to get hurt, Master.”

They descend quietly after that, and their heels click simultaneously against hardwood and they stand in front of a series of doors. Harpae knows which color goes with who– Blue for her, Pink for Fleta, Purple for Lisette, and for Goldia it was White. 

“There’s a golden door here.” Fleta pipes up, with a grimace. “Bet it’s Enjel’s door–  gross !”

Harpae moves away from the embrace and stands still. She hears Jekyll’s quiet footsteps and they abruptly stop. A door creaks open and she assumes he’s opened it up for them. Fleta doesn’t say a word, but something has her gasp.

“What is it?” Harpae asks curiously. 

“We should keep moving.” Fleta briskly moves toward the door frame. 

“Not without one another,” Jekyll admonishes with a sigh and Harpae feels warmth in her hands.

Fleta huffs, so Harpae assumes he’s holding her hand too.

They enter through the door wordlessly, and Harpae feels the air shift dramatically– its colder in here, it prickles at her skin and that does little for her current apprehension. 

“We’re in enemy territory.” Fleta reminds them, with a frown. “So we ought to stay on our toes!”

“Yes.” Harpae agrees with a nod, “Would you mind describing to me what it looks like?”

“Like a….” Jekyll starts, but lowers his voice, “A scrapbook– it almost looks like a worn down castle?”

“I see.” Harpae frowns, her lips taut in a thin line. 

They keep moving and Harpae’s surprised with how quiet Fleta is because she’s normally the most brash out of all of them. There’s a sudden tugging of her hand accompanied by a hushed voice and Harpae feels silk brush against her face.

Voices enter the hall and one to Harpae’s surprise sounds like Goldia who sounds as cheerful and warm as ever. But another voice overlaps with hers, similar, but sharper and she giggles at some kind of joke. 

“Enjel.” Fleta mutters, gritting her teeth.

Goldia and Enjel don’t seem to notice them behind the curtains, and begin moving farther away. Harpae bristles, where a shadow falls over her eyes and she hears Jekyll let out a sigh.

“Which way?” Harpae inquires, concern laces her down.

“Straight ahead– but we have to move, the environment’s changing.” Jekyll urges them outside into view, and briskly down a hallway, the silhouettes of Enjel and Goldia in the distance.

Harpae agrees, but silently worries for Lissette too– she prays she and Hyde are also safe while they descend down the hallway. No one notices a limping figure behind them, growing in size while exiting the void from below. 

Chapter Text

Hyde jolts up immediately after being pierced in his side, reflexively grabbing hold of the perpetrator who lets out a gasp. When he regains consciousness, he stares back at the defiant gaze of Lisette who he’s presently choking. Lisette drops one of her golden scissors that clatters to the floor, prompting him to let go. Before he can say a word, she decks him with her fist. Lowering to his side, Hyde watches blood ooze from it, but it disappears right away after being enveloped by healing magic.

“You wouldn’t wake up, so I had to stab you.” Lisette grunts, now sidestepping him to enter the doorway before them.

Unperturbed, Hyde rolls his eyes, snorting. “Maybe you should have called my name louder.”

“I wouldn’t waste my breath.” Lisette spits out, “since you’re here, accompany me.”

They enter the door that’s been opened ajar, wandering inside. Inside is a bedroom, eerily similar to their bedroom outside of the mind space. Lisette dives into the room, going through everything as Hyde leans against the door frame. As Lisette tears through the room, Hyde sees something underneath obviously in view near the bed frame and scopes it up and opens it up. It’s largely incomprehensible, most of it has been scrawled out. Most of it looks like childish scribbles but there is one thing that sticks out to him. The entry smells fresh because of the wax of the crayons, smeared together with some of the ink. There’s gold and black doodled at the margin lines of the journal.

‘ I met someone today who doesn’t hate me. the entry reads , she’s not like the others and actively tries to have fun with me. maybe she’s lonely too ’. He flips to the next page: ‘ she promised to take me out of here, I wonder if I’ll be able to make her do things for me too?’

Hyde almost crumbles the damn thing if not for Lisette who grabs his wrist. Roughly snatching the journal out of his hands, she scans the pages and throws the book at the headboard of the bed.

“She’s doing it again.” Lisette grumbles, eyes averted. “I hate her so much.”

“But aren’t you trying to protect her?” Hyde asks, lifting a lazy brow. Lisette shoots him a glare over her shoulder and turns toward the door.

“Shut up!” Lisette growls and stamps her feet toward the door. “Let’s go!”

Lisette’s already out the door, but Hyde goes to grab the journal, sticking it into his coat, trailing after her. When the door closes, Lisette  twirls her regalia in her hand, drawing out a frame in the darkness. It forms a glass mirror that reflects nothing back. 

“C’mon, we gotta keep going.” Lisette grumbles, “I’ve got a shortcut to get there.”

Hyde follows Lisette’s pace, following her through the mirror. As they step through, they’re in an entirely new environment, thrust into a mirror hall similar to the one Hyde exited before. Lisette beckons him to follow, which he strangely obliged. Shadows ooze from the ceiling, threading to emerge from the cracks between the mirrors. It looks like a mess.

“Awfully hypocritical of ya try to play hero.” Hyde quips, as they roam throughout the long winding halls. 

It doesn’t stop Lisette though, her heels clacking loudly against the tile. When a copy of her emerges from the darkness, she tears through it mercilessly. Hyde’s almost impressed with how ruthless she is.

“She scapegoated you all, didn’t she?” Hyde nonchalantly inquires, which prompts Lisette to abruptly stop. 

“What of it?” Lisette quietly asks. “What does it matter to you?”

“You seem awfully obsessed about this gal, if you hate her so goddamn much.” Hyde replies, “it tickled my fancy, just a bit.”

Lisette pivots around on her heel, glowering at him. “You don’t know her like I do!”

“Seems pretty manipulative to me.” Hyde shrugs, now putting his arms behind his head. “What good is keeping her alive? Or are ya using each other, like the Good Doc and I?”

Lisette then grabs Hyde’s collar with one hand, the other brandishing a scissor close to his throat. “Don’t speak so ill of her!”

“A little criticism can be good.” Hyde remarks with a wolfish grin. “It woke up the Doctor, after all.”

Letting go of his collar, Lisette crumples onto the floor. She begins to scratch at her head, muttering to herself intensely. Hyde curiously crouches down to her level, relishing in having the upper hand. He tips her chin, but immediately let’s go when he watches Lisette fracture apart.

Impure thoughts. The words immediately bounce into his head as Lisette splits into two, the one now crumpled on the floor while the other stands up tall.

“Let’s go Berserker.” The standing Lisette coldly commands, turning on her heel. She’s already heading forward.

Standing up, Hyde lingers behind to see the other Lisette begin to sob. It’s almost a sorry sight to see, as she holds her head into her hands. Hyde turns before he can get a chance to hear her weep over their circumstances and how she is to blame.

Approaching Lisette again, Hyde watches her curiously draw out a name on a lone mirror with her scissor. Each letter becomes aglow, slowly spelling out Engel's name. The mirror is replaced by a door, which she turns the knob. Wordlessly, she walks forward and falls. Hyde isn’t too far behind, but he grabs at her hand into his own. Startled, she glances over to him, blank faced, but he catches a glimpse of tears beginning to form.

When they emerge from the mirror, they’ve stepped onto golden tile. Behind them are large mirrors, with curtains draped over them.

“We should be close.” Lisette said, contradicting the melancholic expression she wore. “But from hereon, I’m uncertain what we’ll encounter.”

“Probably got nothing on me.” Hyde smugly replies. 

Lisette shoots him a look, but its void of any irritation from before. It’s eerily calm, which perplexed him. “Good, then don’t slow me down.”

They sneak into the hall, it’s chillingly quiet, not a person or other apparition in sight. On the horizon there’s a scrapbook castle in the distance. Sparing a glance at one another, they continue their journey toward it. It takes a while, but they skip past the open gates and enter into a glass foyer. There isn’t a soul inside, above them are countless stairs.

“If they’re coming through here, we better hide.” Lisette states while glancing around. She clicks her tongue, “there’s no hiding places here though, just stairs…” 

“ Hydin’ is my speciality.” Hyde remarks, getting an exasperated sigh from Lisette. He offers her his gloved hand, which she stares at. “I can go into spirit form, making it easier.” 

“You sure it’ll work?” Lisette asks, prompting Hyde to shrug. 

“Dunno.” Hyde says, “It’s your head, anything can be possible if you believe.” 

With a wordless snort, Lisette hesitantly takes a hold of Hyde’s hand. He grasps it firmly, making Lisette jump, but she calms down. They disappear instantaneously, their bodies flicker away in the light of the stained glass at their feet. Despite no longer being able to see her hands, Hyde’s firm grip remains on Lisette.

Telepathic communication is probably the best right now . Hyde suggests. Lisette can feel Hyde shift, his hands guiding her forward until she’s facing the stairs. Do you even know what’s up there?

The exit, or well it should be. Where I or the others front . Lisette replies, her gaze shifting downward to the tile glass and she scowls. How atrocious.

Ohh ? Hyde shifts around, letting out a long hum. That sure is some fancy ass decoration, guess it’d be a damn shame if it broke Eh?

Before their feet was a glass tile portrait of Goldia and Engel. Lisette scowls down at it,  That Bastard.

What happens if she isn’t upstairs? Hyde asks, We just gonna keep searching?

If she isn’t, we’ll wait. Lisette days. I take the mirror and break it, the end.

Man girl you should live a little. Hyde scoffs. There’s a tug, leading Lisette toward the staircase. They reach another landing and ascend to the next glassworks: a portrait of Fleta and Egliette. Her innocence and loneliness painted into each mirror.  The next is Harpae, making Lisette grimace as they ascend the next floor. The last is a portrait of herself, which she feels herself abruptly stop because of Hyde.

It’s nothing special. Lisette grunts to Hyde, Come on.

Hyde for once doesn’t say a word as they ascend. When they reach the landing, a spiral staircase stretches out above them.  As Lisette’s about to begin climbing, she finds herself being lifted causing her to twist and turn roughly.

Hey! Lisette hissed, what’s the big idea?

If I carry you up it’ll take less time. Hyde retorts, securing her in his hold as he carries her bridal style. There’s a rush of wind as he launches himself upward. Lisette scowls as she begrudgingly grabs onto his coat. 

Lisette feels the mana crackle from Hyde legs, it tickles the skin of her body, keeping her preoccupied as she holds onto Hyde. As they continue their ascension, the constant stained glass portraits of herself and the others make her tighten her grip on Hyde’s shoulder. 

It feels like forever, but they eventually reach the landing at the top. Lisette barely allows Hyde a chance to balance himself because she leapt from his arms, her form coming back into view. She takes long strides and stops before golden gates and four mirrors.

Lisette squints, she glances between them. Hyde strides behind her, looking at them as well.

“There’s four mirrors here.” Lisette murmurs, there’s an edge to her voice.

“You’re saying it like there shouldn’t be.” Hyde frowns, sauntering close to her side. 

Lisette’s hands ball into a fist, glowering at the fourth mirror and abruptly turns around.

“There shouldn’t.” Lisette growls, “I bet it was that Demon’s doing––!” 

Upon turning around, Hyde takes in the sight of a familiar form just several feet away from Lisette. A girl and her double stand close together, the darkness of voice absorbing all sound.

No one says anything, until Lisette opens her mouth.

“You––!” Lisette lunges with the ferocity of a beast, scissors armed to stab into flesh. But a scythe appears and swipes back at her, making her back off. “You insolent fake , how dare you!”

“Fake?” The double of Goldia quietly repeats, she wields the golden scythe, “How am I the fake–– when all you do is try to hurt her?”

That shocks Lisette into silence, Hyde says nothing for once, glancing between them. He roughly clamps a hand over her shoulder, making her still. The girl known as Goldia–– their Master, who holds the contract, remains quiet, appearing none the wiser of what is happening.

Goldia’s a pretty face. It makes Hyde angry somehow– it makes him want to punch her. He understands Lisette’s ire to some degree, while she innocently takes everything in.

“Enjel…” Goldia bats her lashes, hiding behind the girl known as Enjel’s frame. “Please….save me….”

“Of course, Enjel––!” The girl known as Enjel proclaims, Lisette’s head snaps up.

Lisette cackles loudly; her laughter incredulous and raucous and she snaps out of her little fit of laughter to aim a scissor at her enemy.

“You are such a fool, you pest.” Lisette’s expression is vacant, a darkness obscuring her eyes from her bangs. “I suppose you’ll have to learn the hard way.” 

Before the two girls can lunge at each other, a rumble from behind them causes the girls to stumble. 

Two girls are hurled through the air from where the staircase is, barrelling into Goldia at precise aim. A third figure emerges, huffing and puffing at the landing that makes Hyde’s eyes light up with recognition.

“Jekyll!” Hyde growls, “What took you so long!?”

“Hyde!” Jekyll calls back, casting a nervous glance behind him as the rumbling continues. “Long story-– but I’m glad…!” He huffs, now trying to pull himself away from the shaking staircase behind him. “ I’m glad you’re right!”

Harpae and Fleta quickly get to their feet, gasping at the sight before them. 

“You––!” Fleta glowered, glaring directly at Goldia. “What the hell are you doing!”

“Obviously something is amiss.” Lisette says matter of factually. “Looks like that demon is trying to force his hand on her!”

“What do you mean?” Harpae inquires, voice steeled, she feels Fleta’s hands clench in hers.

“Oh, wouldn’t you love to tell the class, Enjel!” Lisette barks out a laugh, “There’s a fourth mirror here––!”

“A fourth–– ah!” Harpae stumbles into Fleta, as the ground shakes again.

Behind them an inhumane voice lets out a roar and from the depths, it emerges.

A patchwork monster bearing a likeliness to Enjel begins to climb up, it’s humongous in size, dwarfing the other girls and Jekyll and Hyde. 

“Hoooooooly shit!” Hyde whistles, “I don’t know if that bastard’s mockin’ ya or not, Enjel!”

“You shut up!” Enjel snarls, twirling her scythe. “I’ll break all of you so I can get Enjel out of here!”

“But her name isn’t––” Fleta stumbles, a shadow cast over her eyes. “It’s Goldia! How dare you!”

“Hyde!” Jekyll calls, which makes Hyde compelled to come over. “We need to–– we need to kill this parasite!”

“I’m in agreement–- I’ve always wanted to tear through something bigger than me!” Hyde shouts as he jumps by the doctor. 

“But will we be enough?” Jekyll asks, now turning behind him to see the girls beginning to squabble. “If we use that form… then...perhaps…” 

“It’s that kid’s mind.” Hyde suggests, “Perhaps––” 

The patchwork monster swipes at both of them, causing the tremors to continue. Jekyll and Hyde divide to dodge, each armed with a knife. 

“Master!” Jekyll cries out, backflipping away from the monster’s large hands. “You need to help us!”

“Make us combine to become even more powerful!” Hyde shoots over his shoulder, while cutting off a finger. The monster roars in agony. “Use a command seal or whatever, we can’t do this alone!”

Amidst the fighting, Goldia who has knelt down, clutching at her head, her pocket mirror close to her heart, opens her pink eyes.

“By my command seal––!” Goldia’s quiet voice rings out with authority, possessing a resolve that none of the other girls had before. “Become powerful enough to devour that monster!”

“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” Hyde roared, as mana sparked across him, a thick fog seemed to obscure the field’s vision, with Jekyll and Hyde being enveloped inside. 

Their bodies merge into one before Jekyll uncaps the vial burning in his pocket. As he gags on the medicine, it moves quickly throughout his body; bones snap together, growing in length; muscles grow in size because of the mana powering them; it feels like a euphoric rush– a power neither thought they’d be able to access again after being fractured apart when their Spirit Origin broke. A mass of shadow emerges from the fog, a rush of wind brushes by the girls and as the fog clears a ginormous shadowy bipedal wolf emerges.

With a howl, the werewolf tears through patchwork Enjel, biting and tearing through it. The patchwork Enjel lets out a roar as it tries to fight back that sounds like an inhumane scream, however Jekyll and Hyde continue to attack– slamming and using the unseen walls to add to their fire power. The patchwork monster attempts to swat them away, but it’s too late when they slam them down the stairs. But in the last moment, its torn hand grabs for Jekyll and Hyde–– dragging them with it.

“Assassin!” Harpae cries out.

“Berserker!” Lisette grits out, then turns to Enjel evading a swipe from her scythe. “Not so fast!”

As Lisette and Enjel crossed blades, Goldia collapsed onto the floor. The tremors made her pocket mirror fall from her hands and roll into the void where the stairs are.

At the bottom of the stairs, the patchwork monster lets out a stifled scream as Jekyll and Hyde tear through its paperthin throat, the beast lingers there a moment as it becomes nothing but confetti paper. Hyde is the one fronting–– he is, he always become the tank rolling with the punches, while Jekyll would submerge himself into the darkness. However, Jekyll struggles to remain awake directing subconscious orders  as they’re forcibly combined together for the first time in ages.

Something hits at their head, causing the shadow to dissolve, leaving them tangled in each other's limbs. With a groan, Hyde pushes off Jekyll first, staggering upward. His eyes something that shines in the light from the glass stained windows above, fallen onto something cushion looking. He strides over to it, gingerly grabs hold of the item.

When he grasps hold of the Pocket Mirror, he decides to tempt fate and open it. Only to see his face doesn’t reflect in the mirror. 

He remembers what the Demon mentioned to him before–––

“Hyde!” A familiar voice calls, causing Hyde to jerk around to see Jekyll picking himself up. “Don’t tell me…”

“Do you really have little faith in me?” Hyde groans, now tangling the Pocket Mirror out in front of him. “I didn’t steal it––”

“Is the Demon why we were separated?” Jekyll’s voice is dangerously low. His expression darkens. “ He wants you.”

Hyde barks out a laugh. Jekyll’s fast to grab ahold of his dress shirt, making him snort.

“You’ve gotten bolder.” Hyde remarks with a wolfish grin; Jekyll glares at him– it makes Hyde’s grin widen. “You must be taking after me.”

“Hyde.” Jekyll tightens his grip, as he bears his teeth.  “Shut up.”

“I’ve never been desired this much by a man––” Well, from what Hyde remembers from when they were alive and it makes Jekyll go red. “But seriously, that little pipsqueak had an ego bigger than yours.”

Jekyll’s hands fall to his sides, clearing his throat as he looks away. 

“So what happened anyway?” Hyde inquires, “How’d you get back inside?”

Making a glance upward, Jekyll shakes his head, “I’ll let you know on our way back up. We have to get back to the girls.”

“Fine. But it better be good.” Hyde scoffs. 

It’s the first time  Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde works in tandem. They work quickly to climb back up the now dilapidated staircase.

“Goldiaaaa!” Fleta lets out a wail, as she grasps at the girl’s hands. Goldia’s hair spills all over her in an undignified manner, there isn’t any light in her pink eyes. “Wake up, wake up–-!”

Harpae also crumbles beside Fleta, now holding onto the girl’s hand, squeezing it, but she cannot feel anything. No pulse, it’s as if she’s dead.

The clanging of metal continues, Enjel and Lisette continue dancing around as they continue fighting. They’ve already gotten a few good hits on one another, with Lisette cutting through Enjel’s dress and Enjel cutting through Lisette’s wild blond hair. 

“That’s enough!” Harpae looks to the direction she can hear the fighting, her gaze hardening. “From the both of you!”

Upon seeing the sight of Goldia’s body, both girls seem to abandon the fighting and hurry over. But they maintain a distance because of distrust, glaring holes into one another. 

“What about her Pocket Mirror––” Lisette yells, “Is it there? We should destroy––”

“Do you even know what you’re talking about!?” Enjel yells at her, “If you do that, I’ll cease to be!”

Lisette growls, grabbing the girl’s torn sleeve, “Who gives a shit about you? You were trying to take Goldia all to yourself–– no, you were going to take over her body, but you’re the fool!”

“ I’m the fool? Who became a punching bag and became her worst monster!?” Enjel yells, now grabbing at Lisette’s throat. Lisette instinctively headbutts the other girl, making them jump away from one another. 

“She would’ve manipulated you one way or another.” Lisette seethes, as she glowers. “You wouldn’t understand, since you’re a fake!”

“Why you––!” Enjel cries, about to punch her, but it’s caught in taut wire. “Urgh––!”

Enjel’s body is propelled, thrown into the golden gate by the mirrors. 

From the darkness, a lithe body appears in a chair. A snap of his fingers and the Strange Boy appears, now accessing the scene.

“Hmmm… too bad that didn’t work.” The Strange Boy mulls over, scratching at his chin. His appearance shocked the other girls into silence. 

“You!” Fleta screams, now jumping to her feet “What did you do to Goldia!?”

“Oh….” The Strange Boy pauses, pretending to consider his words, then points to himself. “Me? I didn’t do anything! It was your own undoing, haha!”

“What do you mean!?” Harpae shouts, watching Lisette to lunge at the boy from behind. 

With a snap of his fingers, Lisette is thrown where Enjel was, with a thump. 

“It’s simple, she doesn’t have her Pocket Mirror anymore. You should all know, it’s the essence of her being.” The Strange Boy replies matter of factly, “Sooooo, are any of you useless ladies going to tell me where it is?”

The girls are at a loss of words. The silence breaks when the sound of shoes click up the stairways behind them, revealing Jekyll and Hyde. 

“Oh! Splendid!” The Strange Boy cackles, “I see who has taken the Pocket Mirror for his own selfish whims!”

“What do you mean––” Fleta turns around to see Hyde with the Pocket Mirror dangling off his hand; a shadow cast over her eyes. “Berserker, why do you have that?” She points at the Demon, her voice becoming shrill. “Do you not know who your Master is–– how dare you!”

Hyde doesn’t say a word, ignoring her as he makes his way over to where Goldia’s body lays. He kneels over, opening up Goldia’s cold palm and whispers something into her ear, before laying the mirror in her hand. When he steps back, light returns to Goldia’s eyes, now looking at the glass–– abruptly startling awake. 

“...Stop hurting them.” Goldia says with her quiet resolve, now picking herself up and staring the demon in his face. “Get out of my head–– you don’t belong here!” 

With a stomp of her foot, The Strange Boy tumbles over and is forced onto his knees, a sudden vicious wind cutting him into ribbons.

“Oh dear..” He says, “It appears I’ve been kicked out–– but it won’t be the last time you’ll see me!”

His raucous laughter carries on the wind as he disappears from Goldia’s mind. As he does, Goldia falls to her knees, shaking like a leaf.

“Did we do it…?” Goldia asks, now looking around, earning the surprised looks of Fleta and Harpae who are present. 

“I believe so.” Harpae says softly, lips pinched into a frown. “But… dear girl, is that… you?”

Fleta remains silent, as she glances between Goldia and Hyde. “What did you do?”

“Just told her to get her shit together.” Hyde remarked, causing Fleta to tug roughly at his ear. “Cut the shit–– you little brat!”

“I suppose we should explain when Lisette and Enjel awaken.” Jekyll cuts in, now turning to their crumbled unconscious bodies. “Come now Hyde, let’s help them up.”

With a groan, Hyde begrudgingly goes to assist Jekyll with collecting the other girls.

The girls sit in a circle with Enjel, with Goldia facing parallel of her, with both Jekyll and Hyde on her side. 

“I believe an explanation is in order.” Harpae says, having to be the more neutral party amongst the party of aggressive personalities. “Goldia, you have the floor.”

“First off, I’m… terribly sorry, for everything.” Goldia apologizes, her whole expression dour, “I’ve hurt everyone... in little ways, you have every reason to hate me.”

Lisette is uncharacteristically quiet, her eyes honed in on Goldia. 

“I’ve felt like I’ve been dreaming, because I’ve been foisting off responsibility to everyone…” Goldia gestures, “I felt like I was in a deep… deep sleep, until Enjel came to me. She came to play with me, when no one else would… and I felt like it was because she didn’t have any ill intent, but it appears I was wrong.”

Enjel looks away at this point. 

“I think when we were in danger earlier, I went into flight and fight mode and I was forcibly awakened from my lofty dreaming.” Goldia continues somberly, “...And then I lost my Pocket Mirror… when Assassin and Berserker brought down that monster. ” 

“So that’s how they got it.” Fleta mutters. 

“I’m glad it didn’t break.” Harpae murmurs worriedly. 

“A part of my soul was inside….” Goldia says, “maybe just a fragment of myself, but… Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde had a very long talk with me with how selfish I’ve been when trekking up the stairs. Those thoughts and feelings were caught in the mirror and well, when I woke up… it dragged me down from my place in the clouds…. So… I'm very sorry for all I’ve done….from years of being selfish….” 

There’s a pause, but Goldia tries to smile.

“B-But! I...I … I really wanna make it up to you, if I can… I want to … undo… years of my mistakes and get along with everyone here.” Goldia says earnestly.

“I don’t trust you one bit.” Lisette says, causing all eyes to fall onto her. “I don’t think I’ll ever forgive you for what you’ve done to me.”

Goldia’s expression falters, now looking down at her hands. 

“I accept that– it’s my responsibility to pick up the slack, to not… to not use you as a scapegoat to get out of things or blaming you for being a horrible person any longer.” Goldia frowns. “I promise you Lisette, I want to begin our relationship anew, if … if you want.”

Lisette doesn’t say another word, a beat goes between them and she lets out a long lengthy sigh. 

“Fine.” Lisette says, it’s annoyed, but without any malice. 

“...I want to get along with you too…” Fleta says with a frown, “...I don’t want to fight anymore.”

“...Neither do I…” Harpae says quietly, with a shake of her head. “From hereon, it’ll be a new chapter for us.”

Goldia visibly brightens akin to the sun to hear that encouragement. “T-Thank you!”

“Now...Enjel.” Harpae turns to the mirror reflection of Goldia, everything the same beside her color palette. “What were you up to?”

“I wanted to become a real girl.” Enjel says, “I was created by… Fa...by that Demon to capture Goldia’s Pocket Mirror. He promised me by doing that he’d make my dreams come true–– but that was a lie. And here we are!”

There’s a shared look between them all, Enjel looks away, now standing up and toward the gate. 

“I guess all I was is a tool to be used.” Enjel says, summoning forth her scythe. 

“What are you doing, Enjel––!?!” Goldia jumps to her feet, seeing something was wrong. “What-–”

“...Thanks for playing along with me, Goldia.” Enjel says somberly, now turning back to the others, her body cracking into tiny pieces; fragmenting to the point she can no longer be seen. “I’ll help by getting you out of this mess.”

Enjel shatters; her scythe is accepted into one of the four mirrors and it glows. 

With a cry, Goldia’s heart lurches forward, while the others hang back. The rest of the mirrors begin to glow in response and their regalia burn in their pockets. There’s a loud noise, causing for the whole area to shake.

“Come on, Master!” Jekyll says, now grabbing onto Goldia’s hand. “We have to get out!”

Hyde turns back to the girls, with a smirk. “You better not die!”

Understanding the situation, the regalia all begin to float and are now consumed by the mirrors. 

“We’ll see you again.” Harpae says, “But you need to hurry!”

The three of them exit through the golden gate, vanishing into nothingness.

When Goldia awakens, she finds Henri by her bedside, asleep. She catches a glimpse of her Servant in her room, leaning against the door, out of breath, now one person once more. 

Goldia feels at peace with herself for the first time, sighing with relief as she now gets ready for the day.

Chapter Text

Before they depart for the War–– there’s a lot of little things Jekyll and Hyde’s Master has to do. For one, out of guilt and responsibility, Goldia had taken Henri aside, arranging a tea party with him, much to their father’s surprise. They had a long talk about their family, about them, apologies and while they might be at an awkward stage, they promised to be there for one another.

Goldia had been doing a lot of housekeeping, whether internally or with her family. She was steadfast in her promise to better not only herself, but the relationships she held with others. In the midst of this, Jekyll remained a quiet attendant during this time. Sometimes during the night, Jekyll and Hyde would visit Goldia’s mind space. The mindspace had been properly arranged back in order, with nothing odd being plagued inside. Fleta, Harpae and Lisette seemed to be well, oddly well adjusted now that Goldia is awake. 

They all appeared to be happy in their own ways, which neither of them pressed–– well, Hyde might have teased Lisette on it, which got him stabbed and with one of the others healing him of his injuries in a comical display.

When Henri was set to depart for boarding school, he and Goldia–– from askance, Jekyll noticed the little gestures the others would make, seemed like they were all passively near the front, embraced one another before he left for school. 

“You better be here when I come back.” Henri says, giving his sister a tight squeeze. Goldia–– no, Fleta snorts with a roll of her eyes.

“You forget, Henri, we’re the strongest mage there is!” Fleta boosts, which makes Henri blink in surprise and let out a laugh. 

“Yeah! You get ‘em!” Henri encourages, causing Fleta’s expression to redden and shake away. Jekyll notices a switch, with how something comes over Fleta as the buck is switched over to someone who takes the encouragement with a little more grace–– Harpae smiles toward him genuinely.

“Thank you, we appreciate it.” Harpae responds softly, now letting go of him, and patting him on the back. “Don’t slack now.”

Henri gives his own roll of his eyes, with a huff. “I won’t.”

After Henri leaves them, they are the next to depart– the Grail War is located–– somewhere in Europe, at the border of Belgium and the Netherlands. Goldia, Lisette, Harpae and Fleta seem all antsy of the prospect of being somewhere unfamiliar, but Jekyll (and Hyde) help anchor down their fears.

“It’ll be alright.” Jekyll assures with a smile, “Hyde says the same, with what we went through even before the war.”

“You’re right…” Goldia quietly says, “the others think the same. We can do this together … ”

The Grail War is a bloody clash, it’s everything they were preparing for– but the last thing they thought they’d acquire are allies from unlikely places. 

A boy with a Caster Servant,  a girl with a Berserker–– Goldia and Jekyll know everything can change at the blink of an eye, but at the very least they have each other. 

“Assassin!” Lisette had taken over for Goldia, who became overwhelmed with all the fighting. The blond is at her side immediately, “Looks like they started to attack Allen––”

“I’m on it.” Jekyll replies with a smile, but he looks concerned. “But what about you?”

“Viola said she’d handle it.” Lisette replies, “Now get on it!”

With an affirmed nod, Jekyll heads over to Allen’s location, with a twirl of his knife, he covers for Caster, a dainty thing in the form of a book. It almost looked like Allen, only taking a different form of him. 

The Servant he clashed with gets up, twirling the lance in her hand, wearing a smirk. 

“So you’ve come to challenge me, eh?” The woman in the body suit asks, “Come at me.”

Holding onto the hopes and dreams, Jekyll nervously looks between Allen and Caster. “Master said to cover for you, hurry along.”

“We can do this together.” Caster mumbles, casting magic at her. “Now!”

As Jekyll lunges, for once in his life he doesn’t feel afraid to let loose–– he has a new dream to protect, after all. Avoiding the swipes of her lance, Jekyll backflips and dives for the woman’s legs, slashing with his knife. Caster’s magic sprinkles over her like rain, putting her off and making dodging difficult.

It’s a welcome distraction, because she’s soon toppled over by the might of Berserker. The dinosaur wearing the kimono magically seems to cling onto her monstrous form. A roar from her, and Jekyll knows it’s time to retreat.

It was only the beginning, and for their sake, he wasn’t going to lose so easily.