The finale from The Jet Jewel

Sean froze as he took in the scene. Roderick, Hannah, and the Baron. And a shimmering mass of black shards on the floor. He'd felt the pull of the jewel when Hannah had touched it. But now, as anger rose from his stomach to his head, he wondered why she'd destroyed it. The jewel had been their ticket out of here. Wasn't that what Hannah wanted most?

"Sean! You're safe." Arms outstretched, Hannah ran towards him.

How could she be so calm after she'd effectively thrown away the one thing that set them apart? "What did you do?"

She slowed, dropping her arms. "It would have brought us nothing but trouble."

"So you leave me alone to fetch this thing, and now you've destroyed it. Without ever thinking to ask me." She had the good sense to blush, but Sean was only getting started. "Now that you're here—finally—perhaps you'd like to tell me your next plan? Seeing as you so graciously destroyed our chance of going back home?"

She held up her hands. "Sean, don't be like that." 

Sean, don't. 

"You're all I thought about. You're my brother! Now that Mum's gone, we only—"

"Ah, yes, it's 'Mum' now, of course." He let out a short, sneering laugh. "You must be so pleased. But you were never important enough to be called a daughter before."

Hannah gasped. "Mum did that to protect me. To mislead anyone who would come looking for us." 

"Oh, I see." His voice was bitter. Not even that held up. "She didn't think I was important enough to protect that way."

Narrowing her eyes, Hannah frowned. "How could she? You were born there. Besides, he"—she pointed at Roderick, who pulled his arm free from where Victor was still holding him—"didn't know you existed, so there was no need."

Fists balled, Sean now raised his voice. "She should have told us 'he' existed. He's our father!" He wrinkled his nose and pointed at Victor. "That is who she was running from."

Victor's chin lifted slightly, but other than that he stood idly by, hand on his sword, dividing his attention unequally between Roderick and Sean. Apparently he still thought his father was a bigger threat than his brother. He'd soon be corrected.

Hannah bridged the gap between them, laying a hand on Sean's arm, which he immediately withdrew. "You're wrong, Sean. Don't believe…"

"DON'T!" Sean's cheeks flushed. "That's all you ever say to me! Don't hang with them, don't listen to him, don't talk to her! Did you consider the fact that he may have used magic to make you believe he's the good guy here?"

Hannah glanced at Victor. She wasn't even sure herself. At last, Sean had cracked the great and mighty Hannah's confidence. Maybe, if she had shown a little more trust in him when she saw him just now, he wouldn't have been wondering what else he could crack. Years of biting his cheek, of stoically undergoing the constant ribbing, were agitating the bubbling volcano in Sean's gut. 

But he needed to be calm in order to use magic. As much as he was starting to hate Hannah, he wasn't going to waste his magic on her. That, apparently, was needed for the passive bloke in the back.

Look at him. This was the evil Baron he'd been preparing to kill? All he did was hang around watching everyone. Pathetic. Killing helpless women and suppressing non-magical people must make him feel so tough. In the presence of equals and superiors, however, he shrunk away.

This was why Sean was here. It was so obvious, that he wondered why he hadn't seen it when Charlotte questioned the value of his presence. He'd thought it was all about Hannah, but Hannah was insignificant. Whether or not she was under the Baron's spell didn't matter. Sean would be the one living in Nottingham Castle. Jewel or no jewel, at last he would be the one with the power, and everyone would be grateful for it.

-oOo-

"I do not use magic." Victor said it both to Sean and to Hannah. Hannah frowned. Though she mostly believed him, Sean's words had hit a sore spot. What if she only believed Victor because he made her?

Sean snorted. "No, not in the other world. That's why you killed my mother with a gun."

"Sean, I did not kill your mother."

Hannah chimed in, "That's right. Ben did that. He told me so himself." Of that, at least, she was absolutely certain. 

Sean wore his most incredulous face. "Ben. Killed Mum. I'd like to hear that from him, then."

"We sent him to London, but—" 

"'We'? Conveniently getting rid of the so-called witness together now, are you? You don't think he made Ben confess? I didn't see Ben there, when we found Mum, did you? Saw him, though."

This was not going the way it was supposed to. Why didn't Sean believe her? Hannah had expected to have to convince Sean of Roderick's guilt, but not of her own innocence. "Victor and Mum were friends. He knows things only Mum could have told him."

Sean paused. This was her way in! Hannah opened her mouth to elaborate, but Sean turned and pointed at the wall near the door. A second door appeared. A familiar, weathered wooden door. The way home.

"Take it, Hannah. Open it. Go back."

He'd done it. He didn't even need the jewel. All she'd accomplished by going away was leaving Sean alone with the worst influence imaginable. And now he thought she was against him. How could he think that? Just because she'd teased him a little when he'd done something wrong? It wasn't her fault he did so many things wrong.

She was never a bad sister. Nor a bad cousin. Her first instinct was to tell him how wrong he was, but that was exactly what had driven him to this point. He was wrong, though. It couldn't all be her fault. Could it?

Shaking her head, Hannah stared at the door. All she'd wanted since she came here was to go back. Now she could. Her mother's killer was behind bars. There was nothing left for her here. Except her brother. "I'm not going without you."

Sean laughed without humour. Roderick joined in, sneaking Hannah a victorious sneer as he made his way towards the counter to obtain a bottle of wine.

"Why would I go back? I was a loser there. I'm a leader now. Don't stand in my way, Hannah. I'm warning you. Go home."

Hannah wet her lips. Stand in his way? He'd never talked like that before. Had he really felt like a loser? And whose leader did he think he was here? His bitter attitude had her hesitating between contradicting and appeasing him. Roderick had made her out to be Sean's enemy, and for some reason he'd believed it. Now what could she say?

Victor spoke up. "Sean, this man will cast you aside as soon as he can take no more from you. Expect no benefit from him that will not serve him first."

Taking a glass of wine from Roderick and gulping some down, Sean held up his index finger. When he'd swallowed, he wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "Unlike some other people in this room, he hasn't taken anything from me. I haven't even given him all that much. Especially when you compare it to what he's given me."

Roderick gave a smirk that Sean didn't seem to notice. 

"A whole town full of people. If he hadn't helped me, they wouldn't have given me a second's thought. But you know what they did? They believed me. They think I'm…" He made a big gesture, wine spilling over the sides of his glass. "Magnificent."

"And you think I don't?" That niggling unease in her stomach was growing into panic. This wasn't the Sean she knew. He completely ignored her.

Downing what was left of the wine, he strode up to the fireplace, pushing Victor aside. "They cheered me, is what they did. Welcomed me into his castle. They. Love. Me. Ooh!" He reached into his coat, producing Ben's gun. "Look what Nellie gave me. She says the Baron"—he side-eyed Victor then turned back to Hannah—"doesn't want them owning guns, so she thought I should have it. Not you. Me."

That wasn't so strange, was it? He seemed to think she wanted to be better than him. All she'd ever done was take care of him. And maybe make a few jokes at his expense. He'd never been so sensitive about those before, but perhaps it would help if she apologised? "Sean, I… I want to say I'm sorry."

"Oh!" His eyes widened in mock astonishment. Then he smirked, the flickering light from the fireplace distorting his features. "Little late for that, innit?" 

That was what he wanted? Hannah didn't even know what she was apologising for. Then again, if she'd shown a little bit more support during the rest of his life, maybe he wouldn't have had any reason to think badly of her now. Even if it was the influence of magic that made Sean turn against her, there was some truth to what he said. "Really, Sean, I—"

"Don't bother, Hannah." His smile had vanished. Roderick came over and put his hand on Sean's shoulder. "I've found someone who does want me. Who wants me to be me. Who encourages me to do, because I can." His words must indicate Roderick, but instead of looking at the older man, he moved away from him to fill his glass. He laid the gun on the counter, leaning against it while Roderick ambled back towards Hannah, wine in hand.

"Sean has the support of the people. He will be a great leader."

Victor now moved to Hannah's side, clutching the hilt of his sword. He seemed to think Roderick was the bigger treat here, the way he tracked his father's every move. But to Hannah, Roderick was of secondary importance. He was dead anyway. As creepy as that was, what could he do? She would stand her ground, though she couldn't help balling her fists.

Roderick laughed. A pleasant, confident laugh. The same laugh he'd used to charm her earlier, and probably countless others before her. Poisonous words in silky tones. And yet, that debonair attitude was still attractive, even in a man planning your downfall. He was entirely too close, but Hannah was making a point, here. She shivered when he spoke.

"Sean doesn't need me. He doesn't need any of us. But he seems hesitant to rid himself of you completely, which, I have to say, I do see the merit of."

Uttering a low growl, Victor went for Roderick, but Sean tutted and flicked his wrist. Victor halted mid movement, sword half drawn. He didn't even move when Hannah reached out and touched his arm. 

Roderick, who hadn't flinched, held up his glass and examined it. He continued as if discussing the weather. "That sword won't stop me now, boy. You've tried it before. You didn't succeed then and you won't now. In fact, you never will. Sad, but true." He shrugged. "All things considered, you did me a favour. I can't die twice. So in effect, you granted me eternal life." His gaze wandered around the factory. "Of course, it hasn't been much of a life so far. But Sean will see an end to that." He toasted Hannah's brother, who inclined his head.

Hannah pushed between Roderick and Victor. "Sean, you can't mean to help him. He's the one who told Ben to kill Mum."

Sean only shrugged. Hannah's shoulders sagged. Her brother had turned into her enemy while she was away on a useless errand. She should never have left. It really was her fault after all. She stared at her brother, not knowing whether to cry, or scream, or plead with him. Instead, she remained frozen to the spot, feeling the gaping distance between them.

Roderick faced Victor again, leaning back slightly, so he wouldn't have to look up. "Did you think you would have a chance now that you've found a little friend?"

Jaw clenched, Victor stared over his father's shoulder. "This is not about her."

A twinkle sparked in Roderick's eye. "What, you feel for this girl?" 

Dropping his volume, he leaned closer to his son. "Did she talk to you? And you said something back?" He laughed. "How thrilling!"