Jekyll & Hyde Inc.

“I would have cared for you, if I could,” said Edward. “But that’s not me. Hydes don’t do family.”

“You’re just another monster,” said Daniel.

“Now that’s where you’re wrong,” said Edward. “I was never just another monster. Should I tell you the truth . . . ? I always wanted to tell someone the real story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Well, why not? Tell the truth and shame the devil. Listen closely, my children. I never was Henry Jekyll. I was his friend: the lawyer, Gabriel John Utterson.”

He gestured at the framed photo on his desk, and for the first time Daniel saw a vague resemblance to Edward Hyde in the man smiling out of the faded image.

“A lawyer,” said Daniel. “Makes sense.”

“You said it yourself, Daniel,” Edward said happily. “Why would the good and saintly Dr. Jekyll want to take a potion that would release all the evil in a man? But the repressed and frustrated Utterson . . . he couldn’t wait to take the potion, and do all the things he’d dreamed of. And then murder and frame his old friend Henry Jekyll for the sins he committed.”

“You bastard!” said Daniel.

Edward Hyde put back his great head and laughed heartily, savoring the memories.

“You really are a monster,” said Tina.

“And proud of it,” said Edward.

“Is that why you never took the potion again, to change back?” said Daniel.

Edward hesitated, as though he hadn’t expected that question. He glanced at the man in the photo and frowned, as though he didn’t recognize him.

“He was such a weak man,” he said finally. “Why would I want to go back to being something that small?”

“Why are you still here?” Daniel said bluntly. “You must have known those gunmen wouldn’t be enough to stop us. You had to know we’d come for you.”

“Of course I knew,” said Edward. “But I just couldn’t resist the challenge.”

“You should have run,” said Tina.

“I’m Edward Hyde!”

“So what?” said Tina.

Edward snarled like a cornered animal and launched himself at Daniel. He punched him in the face, and the sheer force of it sent Daniel staggering backward. Tina cried out angrily and went for Edward. Without turning round he back-elbowed her in the throat, stopping her dead in her tracks. By then Daniel had recovered from Edward’s blow, and he lunged forward and punched Edward in the side of the head.

The sheer force of the blow drove Edward down onto one knee, but when Daniel moved in to pursue his advantage, Edward’s fist came flying up from the floor and buried itself in Daniel’s groin. A red flood of agony bent Daniel in half, and his eyes squeezed shut. Edward rose to his feet again, laughing breathlessly, just in time to face a new attack from Tina.

She lashed out at him with deadly force, and he didn’t even try to avoid the blow. He just stood his ground and took it, absorbing the impact without even blinking. The two Hydes went at each other hammer and tongs, taking punches that would have killed any ordinary human being. Neither of them tried to defend themselves, or dodge or deflect a blow. They just threw themselves at each other with single-minded ferocity, snarling into each other’s faces.

Daniel forced himself back onto his feet and went to join the fight, giving everything he had to every blow, but Edward just soaked up every attack Daniel and Tina could deliver, taking no damage and feeling no pain. His eyes danced merrily and he grinned like a shark, revelling in the moment as he finally unleashed his hatred on the two young Hydes who thought they were ready to replace him. He struck out at them again and again, with vicious strength and speed, but they stood their ground too, taking all the punishment he could hand out. Together Daniel and Tina piled on the pressure and drove Edward Hyde back, step by step.

The sounds of fists slamming into flesh were sickeningly loud, accompanied by harsh grunts from all three of them as they packed all their strength and emotion into every blow, calling on every resource they had to get the job done. Daniel and Tina pounded away at Edward, forcing him back toward his desk, and Daniel thought he saw the first flicker of fear in Edward’s eyes as he realized that, for the first time in his extended life, sheer brute force wasn’t going to be enough.

And that if he didn’t win this fight, he was going to die.

Edward stopped laughing, and lowered his fists a little, as though the strength was going out of him. Tina took the bait and moved in, but the moment she came within range Edward spat into her eyes. Temporarily blinded, Tina cried out and fell back, shaking her head as she fought to clear her sight. And while Daniel looked at her, distracted, Edward seized the chance to back away. Daniel thought he would make a rush for the door, and moved quickly to block his way. But Edward went for his desk.