The grail of clockwork and death

Chapter XII

With a quick intake of breath Dakoda mutters a silent curse at the sudden jolt of pain that shot through her head as she sat down on the step of the carriage.

“Dear lord that hurts,” she pouts rubbing her forehead

“Well Dear child that is what you get for shooting a blank into your head, be thankful it was not a bullet or you would be dead, in fact, you are lucky you are not dead as it is. What were you thinking doing something as reckless as shooting yourself?” the doctor scolds as he swats her hand away to examine the wound.

“Well I won't lie I was fully Expecting to die Doctor Taylors, why else would I have aimed at myself and not him,” Dakoda mutters sourly as the doctor who she had grown to know during her time at the asylum dabbed a cloth dampened with alcohol over the open wound on her temple caused by the blank. Dakoda lets out a hiss at the stinging pain and glares at the doctor.

“sometimes I think you enjoy this sort of thing to much doctor,” she mutters through clenched teeth.

“maybe If you didn't find yourself in some sort of trouble every second month you would not be in this situation,” he laughs wrapping a bandage around the wound.

Dakoda huffs and glances behind the doctor to where Scotland yard Officers Gabriel Langdon, Benedict Maloney and a few others -whose names Dakoda had long since forgotten- where loading Lord Watsons corpse into the back of a wagon.

“Virgil was killed, you probably already know that but I feel I must tell you,” Dakoda whispers her heart aching.

“Yes I was aware, that must be hard for you, my dear,” doctor Taylors mumbles cleaning up a wound on her left arm which she had not even realized was their till now.

“I miss him, but… now I feel conflicted, is it wrong of me to mourn my fiance and have feeling which I can not explain for another?” she asks her gaze locked on the officer as he spoke with Inspector Keeland and his other co-workers.

“It is not wrong of you dear, but be aware of what others might think, this society is not as accepting of that sort of thing as I am,” he says. Stepping back he glances at her up and down,

“now other than that atrocious thing you are wearing is anything else wrong, any pain in your legs or torso? And other injuries I should know of?” doctor Taylors asks with an eyebrow raised his gaze settling on her wrists which she had face down.

“Well I did jump out of a moving carriage and injure my ankle about two weeks ago, and the scars on my hands from when I hurt them reopened a bit but other then that no I am fine,” Dakoda mutters grinding her teeth and pouting.

“Are you sure child, I will look at the others soon but are you sure that it all?” He enquiries quietly,

“I would not like to say in the open like this,” Dakoda whispers looking down to her hands as she claps them in her lap.

“very well, you are free to go talk with whomever you need to, make an appointment to meet with me at the clinic some time in the next few days ok?” doctor Taylors smiles stepping aside and allowing her to pass.

“thank you doctor,” Dakoda murmurs with a stiff bow.

“do try and keep out of trouble from now on, my dear child, I don't Particularly like having to deal with you this often,” he jokes. “Oh and I do believe that detective inspector keeland deserves an apology,” he adds

“Yes, yes, so I understand, I will do that right away,” Dakoda sighs, with a groan she limps away from the doctor and towards the group of men.

“Inspector Keeland, is he sufficiently detained?” she croaks as she approaches. All eyes now on her officer langdon dashes forward and wraps his arms around her for support.

“You are in no condition to be walking around yet!” he exclaims with a tone of worry.

“Oh hush you I am perfectly fine, it's not like this is the first time I have played with death, is my brother sufficiently detained detective?” she mutters one arm self consciously gripping Gabriel Langdon as he holds her steady on her feet.

“Yes, he is locked inside the steam-carriage,” Keeland offers stepping closer to her. Gently he places a hand on her cheek tilting her head to get a better look at Doctor Taylors handy work.

“I am sincerely sorry for causing you so much strife, Keeland,” Dakoda whimpers keeping her eyes down and avoiding eye contact. Keeland grimaces and turns to the other officers.

“you two, Take Jayson Cipher back to the precinct and lock him in the holding cell for now. Maloney make sure that cadaver is taken to be inspected, you lot clean this place up, Officer Langdon, follow me and bring Dakoda, she is coming back with us,” Keeland orders walking towards the carriage which they had arrived to the scene in.

While Hobbling awkwardly over to the carriage with officer Gabriel Langdon’s help Dakoda mutters quiet thanks to him.

“Is it OK if I ask why?” He queries while offering a hand to help her into the carriage.

“why what? Why I took the shot, or maybe why I'm so troublesome, do be a little more specific,” Dakoda grunts as she clambers into the carriage.Gabriel following behind her.

“why you do not fear dying, why you would be so prepared to take your own life?” He asks. Dakoda slumps into the seat and sighs

“Oh….” she mumbles. Rubbing her forehead she bites her lip while thinking over an appropriate answer.

“I guess, it has been something which I have always thought of, ever since my parents death. Going to that asylum made it slightly worse but also gave me the time to learn how to hide it from society. I have many scars on my body which I strategically inflicted in places well hidden from prying eyes also. I guess it must be something in my head which is not quite right but I honestly don't think I could answer that if I wanted to, all I know is that after their deaths the only thing keeping me from actually doing it… from committing suicide was Virgil, I couldn't leave him to suffer like I had. there was always the nagging little thoughts of how easy it would be how little I would be missed how quickly all this pain could be over,” Dakoda explains quietly while pulling out the locket which she still wore around her neck. Opening it she tipped the ring which he had gifted her out and holds it out.

“but after his death life seemed to grow more and more futile and everything which he had worked to build up, my confidence and social skills, all that just deteriorate and I was left an empty shell of a person much like how I had been when they died,” she mutters.

“Well then, I know I am not anything close to what Lord Virgil Damarcus was. But I hope you will let me help you find a reason to be alive, you are far to you and beautiful to be dying like this,” Gabriel offers with a smile.

“You may not be Virgil, and Perhaps nobody will ever take his place in my heart,” Dakoda chuckles carefully placing the ring back safely inside the locket, “but that does not mean I am not willing to try make room in my heart for someone else,” she declares with a smile.

Not long after the interaction detective inspector keeland steps into the carriage and takes the seat next to Gabriel and across from Dakoda.

“Okay Dakoda, we have to go back to the precinct and sort out the paperwork for this, you can come with us and give your statement or I can have you dropped home and we can talk in the morning,” Keeland grunts.

“Scotland yard is further away, I shall go with you. It gives us more time to talk in the privacy of this carriage,” Dakoda huffs with an eye roll.

“very well,” Keeland mutters. Giving instructions to return to the Scotland yard precinct.

“Keeland, would it be rude of me to ask about your daughter?” Dakoda asks looking down at her hands as she claps them in her lap.

“She died, that's all there's to it,” He states through grinding teeth.

“I'm sorry,” Dakoda mutters as her heart grows heavy with guilt for bringing it up.

“She looked up to you, protested when they sent you away to Ravenscroft asylum, said that she looked up to you for your bravery and strength, she was only two years younger than you at the time and when the people from the press got to nosey she was their to help keep them at bay. Then there was an attack on a group meeting of the news agency's, they were outside Scotland yard demanding answers to their questions on the case. Someone took that as an opportunity and opened fire on the crowd, five injured three dead, my dear little Emily was one of them,” Keeland sighs rubbing his temples.

“now that we have gotten that out of the way explain to me this Dakoda. What they hell were you thinking, throwing your life away like that,” he snaps narrowing his eyes

“What is it a crime to be recklessly fearless on the face of death,” Dakoda scoffs crossing her arms and pouting.

“maybe I should make it illegal so you don't try it again, do you have any clue how many people would miss you if you were to die?” Keeland mutters, turning to Officer Langdon he raises an eyebrow as if to ask for him to give a little backup on the matter.

“apparently more than I had first thought as many of you men seem to be devastated by the thought, how so very typical of you, ignore me when I am offering help and then become shocked by my actions after I do something dangerous to prove my point,” Dakoda snickers.

Keeland and Gabriel share a glance at each other before turning towards Dakoda.

“Dakoda, so many people care about you, if you had of actually died back there, I would be making house calls all night, maybe even all week taking the time to go and explain to everyone why you are dead,” Keeland sighs. Gabriel smiles slightly.

“You said earlier that Lord Damarcus had been your reason to live, you may not realize it Dakoda but many people feel the same about you, think back to how you felt when you found out about his death, now imagine how much it hurt. Would you really be willing to cause that same pain on those who care for you?” Gabriel Langdon points out.

“Oh… well I suppose I never thought of it that way,” Dakoda mutters as a wall of guilt builds up in the pit of her stomach.

“as long as you don't do something so reckless as shooting yourself like that again I think we can forgive you,” Gabriel laughs.

________

As the three walk towards the door of the Scotland yard precinct they are greeted by two of Keelands men sprinting out of the building. Throwing the door open so harshly that it slams into the brick wall. Running up to them the men look frantic and flustered.

“sir!” they pant in unison saluting detective inspector keeland.

“What is it, it better be important or you are both repairing any damage to the door and wall yourselves,” Keeland groans.

“sir! It's the prisoner, mister Cipher has escaped!” the shorter dark haired man says with wide eyes and a subtitle nervous twitch.

“What, How!?” Dakoda gulps her expression flicking between one of fear and anger.

“We are not sure exactly how he got out, but the cell he was being held in has traces of an explosion of some sort, it seems he had a small explosive concealed on him somewhere and he used it to destroy the lock, the guard stationed to watch over him was knocked unconscious and it would seem he may have left out one of the windows,” the other officer explains.

“How long ago and any sign of where he would be going!” Keeland snaps.

“we found out five minutes ago but nobody heard or saw anything so it could have been more like ten minutes, we have been searching for any clues but all we have to go on his something he had said about needing to destroy the mechanical monster as soon as possible, we all thought he was just manic at the time,” the shorter officer answers.

“He is going after Menachem, you have to stop him! We have to save her, I can't let him kill my maid!” Dakoda utters.

“Dakoda Sophornia Chiper you are in no condition to…” Keeland starts only to be cut off by Dakoda.

“don't give me that Hogwash! I will not allow that demon of a man to harm my friends!” Dakoda argues turning on her heel and storming back to the carriage.

“now come along detective, I may be able to shoot a gun at him but other then that I'm useless and as horrible and twisted as he may be that man is still my brother is don't Particularly wish to have to resort to killing him,” she mutters with a quick glance back to keeland and Langdon.

“do try and quicken your pace! If it has been ten minutes already then he can't be to far! I am to assume he is either on foot or has stolen a ride with a stranger! We do not have time to be dawdling and pondering on what is and is not an good idea!” she hisses.

The quick paced footsteps behind her telling that the two men had decided to hurry to the carriage.

With a click of her fingers the driver of the carriage starts towards her estate.

“Dakoda this is reckless. Did we not just have a long heart to heart conversation about not being reckless? So he wishes to go after Menachem, she is an automaton creation. A synthetic human. It is not like he can do that much damage, even so you can always replace or rebuild it,” Keeland mutters rolling his eyes at her childish behaviour.

“but she is not just a Mere machine. My parents made her, from a real human,” Dakoda whispers.

“maybe it is selfish of me to say this but I will not let her die again, not if what Jayson said is true, she deserves to live even if it is as an abomination of a mostly synthetic and mechanical automaton,” she mutters

“I see, so my suspicions were correct, your parents were dabbling with the forbidden science?” Keeland mutters.

“You suspected them!? And did nothing about it, how so very you,” Dakoda scoffs. “Yes according to Jayson they were performing surgeries on young women turning them into.... well into mindless automaton servants I guess, they would take in a young woman from on the streets or from orphanages and then after the surgerys sell them on the black market as maids or other servants to whoever would pay the most, Jayson said everyone who he killed was involved in some way weather it be that they helped perform the surgerys or they were invested in some way, he said that they had spoken of performing the surgery on my before I was to wed Virgil and thus my dear brother killed my parents and fiance and everyone else to stop that from happening, I can't say I'm pleased by that outcome and I am in no way saying what he did was right but now that I've had a bit of time to think about it I understand why Jayson did what he has done, is a sick twisted way it is oddly charming of him to care so much,” Dakoda shudders.

“that is rather… disturbing,” Gabriel mutters with a face distorted by disgust.

“Yes it is but there is nothing we can do now except try to save my servants lives, I can guarantee that Jayson will stop at nothing to harm Menachem and I have trained them all to protect each other, I would not want their loyalty to be the death of them in this situation,” Dakoda says with a huff. She winces as she makes a move to cross her arms leading her to decide to just leave them folded in her lap.

“If he was on foot get would be arriving at your estate in roughly five minutes, we will be their in six, will they be able to hold their ground until we get there?” Gabriel asks with a nervous glance at Dakoda.

“My servants could hold him off for a full hour if they needed to, that does not mean I like the idea of leaving them to face him by themselves,” Dakoda mutters curling her fingers into the material of her skirt.

“If I am correct in assuming he has been watching the daily routines of me and my servants for a while, they will be in the kitchen Washing dishes or in the dining room eating dinner,” she murmurs to herself

“You let your servants eat in the dining room?” Gabriel Langdon gawks.

“Yes, is that a problem? They are people who I enjoy the company of, I see no reason why I should make them eat in a separate room to me,” she declares.

“No it's not that I've just… I've never met an aristocrat who thought of lower class and servants as equals to themselves, it's refreshing,” he smiles.

“We are all mortal, all human, why should a title given to me by another human make any difference to how I perceive the world I live in?” Dakoda enquiries with a curious glare. “It's not like anyone is going to die because I have treated a servant with kindness rather then as a dog to be trained,” she adds with a scoff.

“Well that aside, when we arrive you two go to the kitchen, I will check the dining hall, if neither of us find them then we shall meet up in the main entrance and do a once over of the entire manor until we find them. If they are not inside then we may need to call for backup and extend the search to the forest and land of the whole estate, understand?” Keeland orders. With a nod Dakoda holds her hand out.

“can I have my gun back? Or have you confiscated it from me until I am better?” she smirks.

“You can have your steam pistol, you can't do as much damage with that one,” Keeland mutters. Giving him a look of disagreement Dakoda shakes her head.

“I beg to differ. A steam pistol is always loaded, and although it may not shoot a solid bullet, scalding hot steam can cause some rather horrible burns. Get close enough it would cause permanent damage to the skin,” Dakoda huffs.

“Ok shall I take that one away from you also?” Keeland replies with a bite of playful annoyance to his tone.

“No that's OK I just keep quiet now,” Dakoda utters raising her hands in defense.

After that the test of the ride was in silence, as they come to a quick stop outside of the manor Dakoda lets out a curse at the wide open front door. Forcefully throwing the carriage door open she rushes out and up the steps stumbling slightly. At the top step she falls to her knees while clutching her injuries.

“damn it,” she hisses slowly getting up.

“You are bloody lucky woman! The amount of times you throw yourself into harmful situations and come out with minimal and minor injuries compared to what you would expect, Stop straining yourself and slow down a bit,” Keeland mutters mostly to himself.

“Gabriel Langdon, hurry up we don't have much time,” Dakoda demands ignoring any protest against her just running into the danger once again.

She rushes to make her way towards the kitchen scrambling through the halls she slams the door open and tumbles clumsily into the room, with a quick glance around the room she grinds her teeth at the lack of people. Standing and brushing her skirts off she turns around and walks out slamming the door viciously behind her.

“They must be in the dining room still,” she growls, her eyes narrow and focus as she walks past Gabriel Langdon -who stands with his hands on his knees as he catches his breath after having sprinted after Dakoda to catch up- she walks with a long and meaningful stride as her attention becomes solely focused on finding her servents and her brother so her anxiously fast beating heart might have a chance to slow down to a calmer pace.

“Dakoda, don't hurt yourself, with your injuries you should should not be running amuck like this, it is reckless,” Gabriel murmurs with a concerned tone as he jogs up to her before matching her quickened pace.

“To hell with my injuries, my servants are in danger. They are my responsibility and I refuse to let them down, If that means I am to risk causing myself even more harm than so be it, I would rather It be me then them, considering I have already sustained many injuries tonight, It will only mean a few extra days for me to rest before returning to doing my work,” Dakoda remarks with a grunt as she traverses the halls to the dining room with a stance of determination.

“I can handle my brothers antics when he is messing with me, But bringing them into it… that is unacceptable,” She growls clenching her hands into fists. As they approach the dining room Dakoda slows down to a creeping tiptoe as she sneaks silently to the door which was open just a crack leaving a beam of light flickering through.

She motions for officer langdon to move closer and she leans in to peer through the small gap into the room. Watching as Jayson steps away from Audrey -who appeared to have had pinned to the wall in a choke by Jayson- he moves out of Dakodas view towards the right side of the room, Ezekiel rushes to Audrey’s side and assists her while Bartholomew dashes past towards the same direction as Jayson had gone. Dakoda scrunches her nose up in anger at the man who would call himself her brother.

“Jayson Cipher, If you resist arrest I will have no choice but to resort to force, don’t make this any harder than it has to be,” Keelands voice rings out from just out of sight in the same direction which Jayson and Bartholomew had both gone.

Dakoda makes a move to enter the room but Gabriel pulls her back slightly and shakes his head,

“Just wait a moment, let things play out a bit if they start looking bad we can intervene but for now Inspector Keeland seems to have it somewhat under control, If we run in their now then it could cause Jayson to attack someone in retaliation,” Officer Gabriel Langdon whispers in explanation. With a hesitant nod of understanding Dakoda goes back to just watching from where they were, concealed behind the door.

“I don’t like this, just sitting by watching when my friends could be harmed at any moment,” she mutters expressing her displeasure with a grimace.

“Neither do I but after Working at Scotland yard for a while I’ve learnt sometimes it is the safer option,” Gabriel snaps while narrowing his eyes in Jaysons direction. “He has something in his right pocket, to bulky to be a knife of any sort, might be some other weapon but doesn't really have the right shape to be one,” he softly mutters, pointing at Jayson’s coat pocket. Tilting her head slightly Dakoda pouts her lips

“They gave him his coat back? Or did he take it when escaping perhaps, it is possible that it is that odd gun he used when injecting the poison concoction into Lord Watson, but that seems to be far to small for it to be the weapon, could be a pocket watch?” Dakoda suggests, as she mentions this possibility she moves to try to get a better view but manages to misplace her hand and she slips falling sideways into Gabriel pushing him through the door. This causes the door to slam open and the two to sprawl just inside, Dakoda gulps slightly before pushing herself off of Gabriel hiding her blushing flustered face by keeping her head down,

“Well, I guess I may have ruined our element of surprise sorry,” she nervously mutters while standing up. Gabriel lays their for a few seconds while getting over the initial shock of it before he lets out a loud and exaggerated sigh.

“Please can you just arrest the man so we can go, sir,” he groans rubbing his arm

“You lied Jayson, though I can’t say I’m surprised by that,” Dakoda utters glaring at her brother who now stared at her in shock at the sudden and rather odd entrance.

“You said you would go in quietly, would leave me and my servants, my friends alone, yet hear you are to bring harm upon them,” she continues walking towards Audrey to make sure she was not too badly harmed

“I changed my mind, I could not allow that abomination to walk around with her face, they just happened to get in the way,” Jayson huffs, Dakoda glares at him.

“Get out of my home, Go and rot in jail where you belong you monster,” she spits taking a step towards him before changing her mind.

Keeland -who stood protectively in front of a stoic Menachem- steps towards Jayson pulling his handcuffs off of his belt to cuff him.

“Will you accept a parting gift then,” Jayson asks dipping his hand into his pocket and pulling out a beautifully made silver pocket watch.

“Just go in… wait what?” Dakoda sighs before realizing what he had said. “Your really going to, just like that? I take your so called parting gift and that's it you go to jail and i live the rest of my life?” she says a little shocked by his answer.

“Yes, you take this, i go, probably die in prison or on death row, but I die knowing you accepted at least on gift from me,” Jayson shrugs chucking the watch to her, catching it with flailing arms dakoda stares down at the intricate designs in the metal.

“It is lovely, Absolutely stunning but do forgive me for being a little suspicious. How do i know you wont try and escape again?” she breathes out while turning the timepiece over in her hands inspecting all sides of it.

“You’ll just have to trust me I guess,” he smirks as Keeland cuffs him. His eyes carefully inspecting her as she fiddles with the watch, almost like he were waiting for something. Dakoda goes to open the pocket watch to inspect who well it worked, so caught up in doing so she took no notice of the ever growing crazed look in her brothers eyes.

Officer Gabriel Langdon however sprinted forward as soon as he saw and forcefully pulled the ornate looking watch from Dakodas hand throwing it towards the window as it clicked open.

An exceedingly large explosion shatters the glass and sends everyone in the room to the floor with the shock wave caused by the quickly expanding ball of flames and shards of metal.

Dakoda scrunches her eyes shut and holds her arms over her head until the ringing in her ears dies down, slowly opening her eyes tears start to build as the room around her spins, and the only sounds to reach her ears is a dull white noise she takes in the sight of the massive gaping hole now in her dining room wall, all windows were shattered glass sprinkled throughout the room and the place was a complete mess, glancing around it seemed nobody was to badly hurt thanks to Gabriels quick thinking. In the commotion, Keeland had managed to get the handcuffs on Jayson who only laughed with a crazed look of victory.

“So long sister dearest, I admit I had hoped to achieve a bit more damage but this is where I must leave you again,” he chortles as Keeland drags him out of the room.

“Officer Langdon, make sure they are all okay!” Keeland demands before disappearing.

Gabriel turns to Dakoda and offers a strained smile. Just as he opens his mouth to talk another loud explosion goes off, then before she can even register what was happening the floor under them caved in and everything went black.