See Part One for story details.

Jenny grinned as she gave a tired swat at Vastra's arm with the flat of the sword, "You'd bloomin' well better have done." She looked down at Vastra's sleeve and said, "Oh, sorry."

Vastra too looked down and saw the deep red blood stains soaking into the arm of her blouse where the robe's long sleeve had been cut through. Vastra knew that her own skin was unbroken and her eyes raced over Jenny, satisfying herself that the blood was not that of her friend, though she recognised the signs of deep exhaustion on the pale face and regretted it deeply. Then her gaze followed to where Jenny was already staring.

The Felinoid's vortex manipulator lay on the floor a little way off, just at the point where Jenny's fierce sword stroke had connected with the creature as she pounced. The leather bracelet had been cut clean through on one side. In the confusion of the moment, Vastra had seen only a splash of red and heard the Felinoid's cry. Only now, staring down at the thick pool of blood that surrounded the device, did she realise what had happened.

Jenny stared at the sword, still clasped tight in her bruised hand, "Blimey, this thing really is sharp. Think I'll keep it, Madame."

"As long as you refrain from pointing it at me, my dear," Vastra said with some feeling.

She approached the device, bending down to pick it up carefully and shake off the blood that dripped from it still. Vastra straightened and tilted her hand so that Jenny could consider the leather strap. She hurried to join Vastra and carefully propped the sword against her leg before she reached out and took up the device. Despite her best efforts, she managed to get yet more blood on to her hands.

Jenny muttered but said nothing as she studied the vortex manipulator. She held it up to Vastra with one hand while the other retook its grip on the sword.

"It will be interesting to see if I can repair it," Vastra said as she studied it.

Jenny rolled her eyes, "More time in that lab of yours."

"You disapprove, my dear?"

"Well," Jenny shrugged painfully, "at least it keeps you out of trouble." She looked around the wide sewer chamber and shivered visibly, "Let's get out of here, eh?" she added, suddenly feeling every bit of the damage that her now-protesting body had sustained over the past few hours.

Vastra considered her friend once more and made to say something about her injuries but the warning glare in Jenny's dark eyes silenced her and she glanced around to ensure that the robed figures remained subdued. At least two were still alive but Vastra didn't much care; if they starved and rotted down here, it would be the least they deserved.

"Indeed. Though I dislike leaving when so much remains unanswered."

"Me too but let's think about that when we're out in the fresh air."

They made to leave but Vastra stopped, staring at the altar. She pointed and said, "My dear, I believe there may be another room behind the altar."

"That's where the Professor came from," Jenny said.

She led the way and they found a small door that opened on to a vestibule of sorts where three red robes hung along one wall with spaces for more besides. There was a narrow bench and a table that held vials and pots filled with salt, oils and wine.

Vastra looked the vials over carefully, choosing one and checking its stopper was fast before tucking it into her gilet. She turned to find Jenny propped up against the doorframe, watching her movements with a curious expression and Vastra said, "For Hawthorne and Hasan."

She explained more as they made their slow way back through the corridors that Vastra had traversed and Jenny had bypassed so spectacularly. Though the passageways and chambers appeared very different without the perception filter to cloak their true nature. As they returned to the small altar room where the two young men remained, Jenny described her own journey to the temple and when she reached the part about the lion, Vastra stopped suddenly.

"What?" Jenny said, having taken a few more weary steps before realising that Vastra was no-longer beside her, "What is it?"

Vastra gave a bark of laughter, "Jenny Flint: Lion Slayer."

"Well, we all need a hobby," Jenny grinned, then added in a lower tone, "Never been so scared in my entire life, even if the poor creature was a mangy thing. Finding a Silurian in a back alley was easier on the nerves."

"I should think so, my dear," Vastra teased. She hurried forward and wrapped Jenny in a fierce hug, "May you long slay every lion you meet."

"I'd prefer not to meet any more, if it's all the same to you, Madame," Jenny said and returned the hug as fiercely as she could manage, if one-handed for fear of catching Vastra with the sword.

She felt safe in a way that she could barely begin to comprehend and would happily have remained in her friend's arms for hours. Best not in this place, she told herself firmly and reluctantly pulled away. Looking up into Vastra's face, she was surprised to see a dampness welling in her eyes and watched in wonder as multiple eyelids blinked it away.

Jenny reached up with her free hand and pressed her fingers to the scaled cheek, "We've got a lot to talk about."

"We have indeed, my dear."

"Perhaps not here, mind."

"Perhaps not," Vastra said and took a step back, "Let us rescue the two young men and close off this place as best we can."

The two young man were easy enough to deal with; the vial's contents reviving them physically, if not entirely bringing them to their senses. That too was for the best, Jenny decided as she led the men back up to ground level while Vastra did what she must to seal off the sewer complex from all but the most determined investigation.

The ground lurched beneath their feet as Jenny shepherded the men through the cellar and she looked back in alarm, only relaxing when Vastra appeared inside the sarcophagus. She was covered in masonary dust and even more filth than before but she was alive and that was enough for Jenny. She noticed that Vastra had some papers stuffed into the front of her gilet but decided that it wasn't the right time to ask about them.

They ascended the cellar steps together and stepped out into the cold but fresh air of the corridor with some considerable relief. Both men shivered violently; their clothes missing, they had been forced to cover themselves with sheets of linen that did little to keep out the cool air.

Vastra and Jenny found their coats and offered them to the gentleman, Vastra donning her hat and gloves only. As she did so, Hasan seemed to see her for the first time. His dark, intelligent eyes still hazy but beginning to clear.

"Sorbek?" he gasped.

"No, Mr Hasan," Vastra said, "though I did know him quite well."

Hasan blinked in confusion and said nothing. Jenny glared at him just to make sure he'd keep on saying nothing and he shied away from her in a manner that he did not from Vastra.

Hawthorne was staring at Vastra and finally a light struck in his own eyes and he said, "Madame Vastra?" in a hushed tone.

Jenny rolled her eyes, patting him on the arm and saying, "Just you remember what our agreement was, Mr Hawthorne, eh?"

He obviously didn't at that particular moment and Jenny wasn't sure if he'd remember any of this at all. It would be best if he didn't and she considered clouting them both just to make sure of it.

Setting that idea aside, Jenny slipped out of the main door, shivering in the cold night air. She wasn't surprised to find their young friend hanging around the edge of the opposite building. Jenny clipped his ear for ignoring their instructions, then gave him a couple of bob to run to Scotland Yard and report an incident at the Hall.

Inside, Vastra settled the still-confused young men and told them to remain where they were. She took a few minutes to return to the office and study, bringing back with her an armful of papers and books that would give the Inspector a headstart in his investigations. Neither man was entirely compos mentis when she rejoined them but both did as they were told without causing too much trouble. Jenny returned and gave Vastra a nod of confirmation before considered the two slumped figures, entirely ignoring the tired set of her own small form.

"They'll be all right?"

"I hope so, my dear," Vastra considered them too, "I fear they will do nothing but confuse the gentleman of Scotland Yard but I think it best that we absent ourselves from their investigation."

"They'll come and have a word, you can count on it," Jenny said.

"They will indeed but I believe we can obfuscate sufficiently well."

"Not sure I've got much of a clue what's going on here anyway."

Vastra studied her, "Do you really not, my dear?"

"Well," Jenny shrugged and winced at even that small gesture, "maybe I have but I still don't understand who was behind all this and most especially why they were doing it. Oh, I know what the blokes in the red frocks were up too - trying to reshape the world more to their liking, no doubt - but there's more to it than that."

"There is."

"So who?"

"Ah," Vastra looked around the darkened exhibition hall for a long moment, "that I do not know but I fear we will find out. And I fear that we will find the answer most disagreeable."