~ Wow, I really can't believe this is the end. Hmmm…sort of depressing. I suppose I will miss these characters. And I know I will miss all you reviewers who have stuck with this story. I greatly appreciate all of the reviews that you have bestowed upon this tale.

My last words to my reviewers =)

JAY GOOSE: You're sweet…and you don't suck…unless, of course, you are a vampire. Thank you for the love. Glad to make you happy.

CLEZ: You know you are so high on my list as one of my favorite reviewers and authors…although you seem to torture poor Tom too much! I am sure you knew that. I absolutely, positively admire your work. But…let me not start bowing to you…geez…and making you blush…gosh…and…ugh…you get my point. Really, though, I am in great thankfulness for all of your reviews! And I look forward to more of your reviews for my other story…cringe…you get a special metal for reading that garbage. Bowing to you =)

VESICA: Ugh…another one of my favorite reviewers. You with the absolutely long reviews. You with the expansive knowledge of words that I can't even pronounce. You with the fantastic story that reads like beautiful poetry. Gosh…I do so wonder when someone is going to update!!! Hmmm…not you, of course. I mean, I wouldn't come on here thanking you profusely and then add some sort of pathetic…oh yes I would. Update that story, Vesica!!! Anyway, I do love the fact that you reviewed every chapter of this story. Thank you so much. I would bow to you, but I think I hurt my back from all the bowing I have bestowed upon poor Clez =)

TIFF: Those naughty cliffhangers. I do hate them. But here is the wrap up. Thank you so much for the reviews =)

ENDURO: Ugh…not my name. Geez…for some reason I feel like Rumplestiltskin!!! I hope I don't fall through the floor. Glad that you were delighted with this chapter. And you know that you are another one of my favorite reviewers. As I told Vesica…update your story soon. I think you are brilliant and I really want to see what Dorian will do with Mina in a gentlemen's club. Uh…Jesus I really need to go back to confession for all these naughty thoughts. Anyway…I am so delighted to have you as a reviewer. Hope Russia is treating you well =)

BLONDEVOR: Aw…that is the nicest thing to say to me. I don't really think this is that great, but I do thank you for your kind words. The movie was a bit strained in parts, but it was interesting. And the story line was great. I just wish that I hadn't written this up to be so confusing. Sometimes I look back on the chapters and think…Jesus, what was I thinking? Anyway, I greatly appreciate your review of this chapter. I hope you enjoy this end =)

ELVINE WOOD NYMPH: The dreaded cliffhanger! Thank God all of you have strong hands. Thanks for the review =)

.RAYNE: Favorite story? Geez…there must not be too much out there then, eh? But thank you for thinking this is good. I do try to put a lot of Mina and Dorian in these chapters since they are so good together. And I am very glad that you liked the ending of the last chapter. I tried to show a softer side of Dorian. Thanks so much for the nice review =)

RABID FANGIRL #47: Love the snu-snu…I think another reviewer called it that also and I had to laugh. Maybe you are that very reviewer =) Anyway…I suppose it does sound better than the f word. Actually, anything sounds better than the f word. And Dorian nude…that was for Basil…and for you dirty minded reviewers. Can't a seriously hot guy just come out of the bathroom naked and no one make such a fuss about it. Well…um…I guess I see your point. Thanks for the review =)

PANZERGAL: Here is your update. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you very much for reviewing =)

GODDESS OF THE BLOODMOON: Another of my favorite reviewers!!! You're right about this site, it does act stupid sometimes. Really stupid. Glad you and Rabid Fangirl enjoyed nude Dorian. Don't know how much you enjoyed him, but hopefully you two shared the burden =) You know I greatly appreciate you as a fan and I can't wait for you to update your story. Now…here is Dorian's decision =)

ELROND55: Hmmm…I get the feeling that you reviewed mine just because I reviewed yours…that is fine. I just don't want you to think that you have to review mine just because I review your story!!! But thanks for the review =)

ANONYMOUSLOVE: Chills? I love to give people the chills. Thank you. You are always so kind with your words. Talent? Ummm…I think that word is stretching the truth a bit, but thanks. I hope you like this ending =)

FST: Thanks for the thumbs up. Hope this ending doesn't get a thumbs down. Great thanks for the review =)

Thanks to anyone else who reviews this last chapter and I don't get to thank you!!! You guys make me smile =)

Mina sat in a red velvet chair, a book raised in front of her face, her right hand resting in her lap. She had been sitting here for at least an hour, but the time had passed without one word on the page being read. The words had become a blur to her superior vision and she wasn't even sure that she still had the book grasped tightly enough in her hand.

Behind her the library door opened slowly as someone entered the room. She heard it click back in place softly as if someone were trying to sneak up on her. Then, as she listened intently to the movement behind her, she heard the lock of the door slide into place. Someone meant to keep her here.

She didn't turn for fear that the intruder would do something more drastic if he were found out. She simply cleared her throat as she lifted the book higher up in front of her face.

She sniffed the air, now coming to the conclusion that Dorian had let his beast into the room. She could smell the dingy fur of the mutt as it closed in on her.

Quickly, with little thought, she stood up and turned on the animal.

A furrow met her brow as she found herself staring into the eyes of Basil. Taking her eyes from him she glanced around the room, but the dog was nowhere to be seen.

Regaining her composure she seated herself on the arm of the chair, her eyes looking upon Basil again, "Is there a reason why you've locked us in this library together?"

Basil looked her over and then brushed past her, "It's safer." He mumbled as he walked along the bookcase, his hand brushing over volume upon volume of old, dusty books.

Mina turned, now bringing her left foot up onto the cushion of the chair, her right foot still rested on the oriental rug, "Safer for you or for me?" she asked softly, her eyes studying the cocky flutter of his walk. He almost reminded her of Dorian.

Basil turned, now walking back toward her, "That isn't a very ladylike way to be sitting, Mrs. Harker."

She closed the book, gently laying it on the chair next to her booted foot. Slowly she let her hair down and shook it out, her hand throwing her barrette behind her, "What is this about?" she asked, her eyes roving Basil's face. He was sweating now, his eyes filled with a deep hatred.

He shrugged, leaned himself on a jeweled vase and stared at her.

"Am I supposed to be frightened of you?" she gathered her dress up so that he could see the dagger stashed in her boot, "I would hope you realize that I have a few more pointed objects than you have."

He did look rather defeated for a moment as he bowed his head, "I suppose I have been foolish. But Dorian has sent me to make sure that your decision is true." He was approaching her again, "And I must know that it is true also."

She dropped her dress, but her eyes still watched him closely, "It is very true. I am done with Mr. Gray."

Basil smiled as he stepped up to her. Slowly he reached out his hand, "Might we shake on the truth of that statement?"

Mina grasped his hand in hers…

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The library door flew from its hinges, landing a few feet from where Basil stood; his hand still clasped with Mina's.

Hyde walked into the room. He was roaring with rage, his muscles pushing against the surface of his skin as he approached Basil.

Nemo entered next, his sword at the ready, his brow furrowed with anger.

Tom was behind him, guns drawn, his mouth pursed with the weight of the situation at hand.

Skinner was the last to enter.

They all halted just a few feet from Mina and Basil.

"Give it to me!" Nemo demanded of Basil. Mina looked at Nemo with confusion in her eyes.

Basil backed away from the league members, his hands now buried in his pockets, "I have no idea of what you mean?"

All of a sudden Basil was grabbed and thrown to the floor by invisible hands. Seconds later a stake was pulled from his pocket and handed to Tom. The butt of Tom's rifle was now buried deeper in Basil's hair.

Nemo pushed past Mina, something dropping out of his pocket as he did so. She leaned down and picked it up.

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It was a note written in Dorian's handwriting. She puzzled it for a second and then retreated into a corner of the room to read it. None of the men were paying attention to her at the moment so that made it easy for her to get away.

She seated herself on a long wooden table and began to read it.

To Whom It May Concern:

There are times in life when you realize that you have done something that would jeopardize your whole reality and crumble the very foundation that you stand on. This is one of those times.

I am not one for admitting when I am wrong. I haven't done it in centuries, so this is a little condescending to my nature. I have no reason to feel guilt, because guilt has no reason to feel me. I just am.

Still, I do ponder the exactness of my evil at times.

Getting to the point…

I have failed and tricked Mina once again. Not by choice as it is my nature to betray. If you were to tell her this she would fully understand. She being the only thing in my life that is worth contemplating.

She is in great danger. I have, in my own absence of caring, put her life in the hands of my immortal friend, Basil. Or, as Nemo knows him, Lisab. The name Lisab being Basil spelled backwards. That was his ploy to get on this ship, I gained my assess by deceiving dear Mina.

As you can see I have restored all of your possessions to you in hopes that in your wholeness you can fight off this evil.

I followed Basil to the library where he means to stake her with a weapon I have provided for his use. This being my mistake.

There is little time.

Since we have docked, I will be taking myself from this ship and disappearing. I only hope that you men are in time to save my beloved.

Do not show Mina this letter. It is best that we go our separate ways.

Dorian Gray

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The four men stood around the large table, all of them lost in their own thoughts. They had been betrayed by something that they had all loved very much.

"The whole time?" is all Tom could muster up as he dropped himself into a chair.

"Seems that way." Jekyll said softly, his eyes filled with some sort of deep despair.

"Was that way." Nemo said gruffly.

"Is that way." Skinner said as he slopped on some grease paint, "That's just the way of the beast."

Tom stood, pushed past Skinner and clomped on down the hallway. The rest of the men just sat there staring at the table.

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Mina pushed the paper under Tom's door and disappeared off the ship.

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Tom pushed open his door, paused and kicked the letter underneath his bed. He knew the handwriting on the front of the paper. He had seen her write his name that way before.

He laid on his bed for awhile, his eyes staring up at the ceiling.

But curiosity finally won and Tom reached under the bed to grab the letter.

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The men looked up as Tom entered the room. All the eyes searched him as he seated himself. He didn't say a word as he opened up the letter and began to read it.

To My League Members:

I have no reason to beg your forgiveness for I knew what I was doing from the start. I won't even try to explain why I did it. There is no fairness to immortality, it dies within the centuries. I have nothing to offer you men except my apologies.

I have to thank you for saving me from Basil. After reading that note you should have let me go to my death. It would have been much deserved.

I go now. I must reach Quatermain and gain back my mortality. It is the only thing to live for now.

I truly love each of you.

Mina Harker

Tom put down the letter and eyed each of the other men. No one spoke. The silence was the answer.

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Thria came into the upper room, her hands buried in her pockets, "Mr. Gray, the movers would like to know if you mean to take all the portraits that lay in misuse in the tower."

He turned to look at her, "Have you looked at them?"

Thria smoothed the apron she wore, but avoided his eyes, "Yes, and I find them rather…"

"Disturbing." Dorian finished for her.

Thria looked at him, noticing that he didn't look angry, but interested, "There are ten in total?" she almost stammered as he stared at her. Nervously she tied the apron strings tighter to her stomach. A waist that had decreased as she had lost weight over the time that Mr. Gray was gone.

"Descending from flesh to bone." He said in a soft voice, "Just something that I wanted captured in a frame. I could have my painter do one of you."

She stepped back a tad and a light grin danced upon Dorian's lips, "I don't see why you would want a group of paintings that show you withering away to bone. And I would hardly like to see myself that way."

"Yes, I want them." He said and then turned back to his suitcase.

Thria disappeared but came back into the room moments later, "Everything is taken care of."

"Good." Dorian purred without turning to her, "Come here Thria."

She hesitated in the doorway, but when he said it again she obeyed. She found it unsettling that he hadn't turned to her yet.

"Yes Mr. Gray." She said as she moved nearer to him.

"Closer." He said.

She now stood right beside him. He turned to her, his eyes roving her face.

"Shall I have one of the men come up and gather your suitcases?" she asked as he stared at her.

"You've been the obedient servant, haven't you?" he said as he stepped closer to her. She moved back.

"I would think." She said softly, but eyed him in confusion.

"Do you want to kiss me Thria?" he asked, "And I don't mean those kisses you read about in those books of yours."

She took in a deep breath, "It's getting late Mr. Gray, shouldn't we be going?"

"The departure can wait." He purred as he reached forward with one finger, gently pulling her apron string free from its bow. The two strings fell to the sides of her.

She moved back from him as she pulled the apron over her head, "You'll be angry if the journey is delayed."

He grinned, "Then kiss me so we can delay it no longer."

She looked up into his liquid brown eyes, but puzzled his advances. He moved closer, his hands taking her hands and placing them on his hips. He held them there for a moment as he stared into her eyes.

"Really Mr. Gray, I am sure this is quite unheard of." She shivered under his touch, "A maid and her master? What would people think?"

"I hardly would call myself your master." He said, now leaning in on her.

She found her hands grasping onto his waist as he kissed her gently.

Then he opened his mouth and she opened hers. They kissed hungrily, her fingers digging into his back as his hands slid up underneath her skull.

She winced with the uncontrollable want that was now pulsing through her.

The kiss was so hungry that it startled Thria, causing her to pull away. She brushed at her lips with her hand, thinking he had put spit all over her chin. It wasn't such a bad thing, but it was a bit too much for her. She had seen him get rough with women before and it usually started like this.

She brought her hand from her lip, now puzzling the crimson stain on her palm.

"Blood?" she asked and then she realized that Dorian had blood staining his lips.

She moved further away from him.

"You can thank Mina for that, dear Thria. Seems she has bitten me one too many times." He licked the blood from his lips and grinned at her, "How about another kiss?"

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Mina paused in front of the large home, her own voice pounding in her ears to leave this place. It wasn't right to be here. To see this man who was dead but not dead.

She knocked on the door. No one answered.

The streets behind her were bare. No one would see her if she were to break in.

She tried the doorknob and was relieved that it wasn't locked. In she walked.

The only sound in the home was the ticking of a clock.

She ignored it as she made her way up the stairs, through a long hallway and up another flight of steps.

What she came upon startled her so much that she was sure she would loose her balance and fall right back down the stairs behind her.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Thria felt her back hit the mattress of Dorian's bed. She moved to pull herself back against the headboard, but Dorian pounced on her before she could do anything. She screamed as his hands pinned her to the covers, her legs pinned together by his knees.

His black hair fell into her face as he kissed her lips again.

As his nose slid past her nose, their lips parted for a second, Thria pursed her lips tightly together.

He stopped, his eyes staring at her lips that seemed to be disappearing into her mouth. He grinned, kissed her nose lightly and pulled back from her.

"Open your mouth, Thria." He said as she closed her eyes, digging her head back into the pillows, "I really don't think you want me to open it for you." He said darkly.

She pulled hard at her bound wrists, but his hands just dug in deeper. She pushed at his knees with all the strength in her thighs, but his legs didn't move an inch.

Finally, exhausted, she laid still, her body shivering with fright and excitement. She didn't want to open her mouth for fear that he would smell the blood that was still trickling down her throat. Her tongue throbbed against the roof of her mouth as she tried to stop the bleeding.

He moved slightly, "Are there any vampires in those books, Thria?" he tightened his grasp as she moved up against him again, "Those books that you keep on your nightstand."

"No." she said with trembling lips.

He had his mouth covering her mouth within seconds, his goatee grinding into her sensitive skin. She moaned and squirmed beneath him.

Finally as she began to sob into his mouth, she felt him pull away, but it wasn't long before his wet mouth was at her neck. She tried not to shiver under the touch of his lips against her skin.

She opened her eyes only to see his hair laid over her face like a veil of black threads. And that hair, that thick mass that lay clinging to her nostrils, smelled of ancient times. The smell reminded her of an old book with yellowed pages.

She cried out as his hands burrowed into her flesh.

"I know nothing of vampires." She said softly as she shook her head, "Nothing."

"You will now." He said against her skin.

Seconds later, as she lay there pinned to the bed, his lower body nearly grinding her into the mattress, she moaned and pushed up against him.

His chest fell against her chest, causing her to cry out in terror. He was now nearly lying on her, his mouth sucking at the flesh on her neck.

The sound she made when he finally punctured her vein, could hardly be classified as a sound. It was merely a whimper from somewhere deep in her throat. It seemed to get lost in the tangle of black hair that still lay over her lips.

In one last attempt, she pressed up against him, only to find that he was extremely aroused by what he was doing to her. She gasped lightly and fell back to the bed, his weight still pressed into her.

She began to whisper prayers.

Finally, her hands were freed from his grasp as he buried them in her hair and pulled her neck tighter to his mouth.

She moaned in pain, but groaned from the pleasure.

If she died tonight, God would surely send her to hell.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Mina moaned against her hand that now lay gripping her mouth. Her eyes showed her disbelief as she neared the bed.

She couldn't say anything as she watched him draining the life out of Thria. Slowly she backed away. She meant to leave, but at the bottom of the steps she stopped. This was her monster.

She hesitated on the last step.

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Dorian pulled his fangs from the throbbing neck, kissed Thria's dry lips and moved off the bed. He was fully satisfied now.

He pulled the bedspread over Thria. Two men came up the stairs and took his suitcases. He told them to send up one more man to get Thria. He knew he couldn't leave her there. Not in the condition that she was in.

A large man came up and threw Thria over his shoulder and exited the room.

Dorian gave the room one more look and then he turned toward the door to leave.

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Mina pushed Thria over to the other side of the carriage and seated herself. She had to position the woman so that she was seated with her face pressed against the window curtain.

When Dorian entered the carriage he paused to look at Mina and then he seated himself. He looked unbelievably attractive with his glowing skin and freshly washed face.

He pushed himself into the seat, crossed his long legs and then looked at her, "You read the letter?"

She crossed her legs, opened her coat, but didn't speak. Her hand was now out to the side pushing Thria's body back against the seat so she wouldn't fall to the floor.

"You seemed to have given me a gift before I parted that ship." Dorian said, his eyes cast out the window as the carriage dropped into darkness around a sharp corner, "A gift that I would love to return if I could."

Mina still remained quiet.

Dorian, sensing her unwillingness to speak, looked at her, "Did you get your gift, Mrs. Harker?" he eyed her, "Are you mortal now?"

She pulled off her coat and threw it over Thria, "I'm not. Seems mortality doesn't agree with me, Mr. Gray."

"So, what do you want?" he said as he drummed his fingers on the cushioned seat, "My apologies?"

She rolled her eyes gently, "Really Dorian, I think we are beyond that."

"Hmmm…" he said as he eyed her beautiful face, "you want me to say more than that. But you know I can't say those words, Mina, I never have. And I never will."

"I'll ask you if you do and that is all." She said as Thria groaned softly.

Dorian's eyes shifted to the window, the moon looking so cold out there in the night sky, "If I say 'I don't' it wouldn't be true." He said softly, but his eyes remained on the darkness outside the window.

Thria moved, now falling against Mina's shoulder.

"That's good enough, I suppose." She said softly as she brushed her lips over Thria's forehead, "God, Dorian, you've given her such a fever." She pushed the woman back over to the other side of the carriage.

"And what have I given you?" he asked as he stared at her.

She slid herself onto his lap, gently kissing his warm mouth, "Nothing."

They kissed deeply, Thria moaning from the seat in front of them.

"And you want more of nothing?" Dorian asked as their lips parted.

"Much more." She said as she kissed his chin and then his neck and then…

Mina moved back over to the seat with Thria as Dorian stared at her in disbelief. It was the most haunting look that Mina had ever witnessed in her whole eternity. His lips quivered as his breathing began to come in short gasps. A furrow met his well-plucked brow as he looked down at the thing wedged in his chest. Blood was gushing hotly down his light blue vest and over his pants.

"I made you a vampire, Mr. Gray, so that I could take your life from you. Isn't it funny how things can turn on you."

He eyed her again, his hand grasping at the wood that was deeply lodged in his chest. When he pulled at it he was sure he felt his rib cage move.

"I have someone I wish for you to meet. I believe he has some wisdom to bestow upon you." She smiled lightly.

The carriage stopped abruptly and the door was pulled open. There in the street, rain glistening on his coat, stood Basil. He smiled at Mina, pushed Dorian over to the other end of the seat and sat down.

"Shouldn't make a bargain with the devil, Mr. Gray, for the devils will find you and take the bargain away." Basil said as he grinned at Mina, "Isn't that how it goes, Mina?"

Mina patted the coat closer to Thria's feverish skin, "Yes, Basil, very good."

Dorian was slowly slumping lower in the seat, "Betrayed…" he whispered as he looked at Mina, and then he looked to Basil, "by you?"

"By us." Mina said in a hissed voice, "By those you betrayed."

Dorian slumped to the carriage floor with Mina and Basil staring at him. He, again, pulled at the stake, but it stayed in its place.

The carriage rode on into the rainy night, gently slipping in and out of the moonlight.

And the last thing that was heard as it disappeared out of view was the dying breath of Mr. Dorian Gray.