𝑫𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑬𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 ☆ The Glorious Series ｟ BOOK 2 ｠

The Crimson Horror [Part 2]

Inside, Carriage, Day...

"According to my research, Sweetville's proprietor holds recruitment drives for her little community." Vastra said as she and Jenny were facing forward, Strax sitting in between Lexi and Marguerite as they sat across from them. "She is only interested in the fittest and the most beautiful."

"You may rely on me, ma'am." Strax said, gesturing to himself.

"I was, in fact, speaking to Jenny." Vastra informed him.

"Jenny?" Strax frowned. "If this weak and fleshy boy is to represent us, I strongly recommend the issuing of scissor grenades, limbo vapor and triple-blast brain splitters."

Lexi rolled her eyes. "Oh, Strax, how I've missed you..."

Vastra sighed. "What for, Strax?"

"Just generally." He shrugged. "Remember, we are going to the North."

"And since this very much has something that concerns me, I will be going with Jenny." Lexi stated before picking up Marguerite's genie lamp that had been sitting in her lap the whole time. "And Marguerite is going to go back into her lamp which I will then hide under the poof of my dress by strapping it to my hip. And once Jenny and I have infiltrated Sweetville, I will let her back out so she can help us by using her magic to sense where the Doctor might be."

"And you were up in Yorkshire before?" Jenny questioned.

"Yes." Lexi nodded. "It's a long story. But I wanted to have a plan before going into Sweetville. You were the first people I thought of that could help me."

"And no offense intended, you seem quite nice." Vastra spoke up, looking to Marguerite. "But, why are you coming along?"

"No offense is taken, Madame Vastra." Marguerite said, giving the lizard-woman a small smile. "I am coming along with the Glorious because I... owe her."

"Owe her what?"

"That is something that only she can answer." Marguerite replied before leaning forward to look past Strax and at Lexi. "But that is only if you choose to do so."

Inside, Church...

"Bradford, that Babylon for the Moderns, with its crystal light and its glitter." Mrs. Gillyflower spoke as she stood at a raised podium flanked by two young men and two young women, all dressed in black. To one side was a screened area and on the other was an easel with a cloth draped over it. "All aswarm with the wretched ruins of humanity. Men and women crushed by the devil's juggernaut! And moral turpitude can destroy the most delicate of lives. Believe me, I know. I know."

Lexi and Jenny sat in the large audience of people, watching as one of the young women pulled a cord, making the screen open to reveal another young woman sitting down, wearing in a light grey coat.

"My own daughter." Mrs. Gillyflower continued. "Blinded in a drunken rage by my late husband." She stated as he daughter turned around, making the audience gasp at the sight of her eyes. "Her once-beautiful eyes, pale and white as mistletoe berries." She said as her daughter stood before walking across the stage with a cane. "And what, my friends, is your story? Will you be found wanting when the End of Days is come, when judgement rains down upon us all? Or will you be preserved against the coming apocalypse? Do not despair! I offer a way out! There is a different path! Sweetville!" She said as her daughter removed the drape on the easel to reveal an artistic rendering of an idyllic village. "Join us! Join us in this shining city on the hill!" She exclaimed before she began singing. "Bring me my bow of burning gold Bring me my arrows of desire..."