Holmes and Gordie |
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Chapter 1 |
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| I rapped my knuckles on the green door of 221B Baker Street.The rain beat down upon my raven-black hair, drenching me to the bone. I frowned and looked up at the apartment. It was neat and seemed moderately pricey, judging by its location. I checked my phone and texted Sherlock once more. Where are you? I’m outside…..In the rain. Many times Sherlock had left me waiting in the rain, or had simply left me. Last year he had walked away while I was in the middle of a sentence, causing me to feel somewhat downcast during the remainder of Moon Fair. And another time he had promised he would visit after a Margit, a healer, had been accidently thrown from her horse. But of course he didn’t show. Today, instead of waiting for him to show himself to me, I would show myself to him. Mrs. Hudson answered the door. “Elspeth! Come in child, come in out of the rain.†The kind landlady of 221 Baker Street ushered me in out of the wet, handing me a towel to dry myself with. “You’ll catch your death out there.†“I assure you Mrs. Hudson, I’m quite alright. In fact, I can’t feel the cold at all.†Mrs. Hudson frowned. “My dear girl, you know it’s better to catch a cold now, than to cloak it and catch it later. It’s not like an injury, you know.†I smiled as she took my overcoat. “It certainly feels like it.†Mrs Hudson led me to the sitting room, where Sherlock Holmes, consulting detective, sat in a cosy emerald armchair, plucking the strings of his violin. “Hello, Mr. Homes.†Without as much as a glance in my direction, Sherlock shook his frowned. “Don’t interrupt me. I’m in my mind palace. You want me to find Ariel.†I nodded and sat down in the adjacent armchair. “I just wanted you to know that it’s extremely imperative you find him. Three people have already gone missing. As you know, detective Holmes, I am the guildmistress of the Farseekers, but even I have extended the reach of my abilities.†Sherlock nodded, flexing his musically long fingers. After a few moments, he looked at me. “You mentioned you and he communicate on the dreamtrails. Did he say anything about where these people had gone?†I shrugged. “Not really. He just made it blatantly obvious that it was he who kidnapped the three Farseekers. Can you find them or not?†Sherlock wiggled his eyebrows. “Testy, aren’t you? Well. if you leave it with me, I do believe I can. I can’t make any promises, however. I am not a Misfit. I am simply a rebel with a keen eye. I will get in touch with a few people and I’ll see what I can do.†I nodded, smiling. “I’ll return within a fullmoon. Good day, Holmes.†“Good day, Gordie.†Sherlock drummed his fingers on the dining room table. “Watson, will you stop thinking. I’m trying to concentrate!†“But you’re not even doing anything!†John sat at the end of the dining table, devouring his container of sweet and sour pork. “I don’t know why you took a case for these people. You know what Elspeth is capable of. If you can’t find this missing person, she could kill you.†Sherlock rolled his eyes. “John, do you always have to be so negative. I said I’d find this…Ariel. And I will find him.†John raised a brow. “Him?†“Yes, him. Ariel can be a boy’s name, too, you know. Why are you so gender-biased?†John’s nostrils flared. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.†Sherlock stood up, grabbing his new navy –blue scarf and wrapping it around his neck. “Are you coming? I know where Ariel is.†John looked disbelieving. “If you know where he is, then why didn’t you just tell the misfit woman?†“And miss out on being paid?†Sherlock laughed. “Let’s go, Watson!†“Don’t call me Watson!†Eckleby’s Tavern was located in Manchester Street, not far from 221B. Sherlock and John took a cab, with John paying the fare. As they entered the pub, Sherlock pulled out his deerstalker and pressed it on his head, turning his collar up to hide his face. John rolled his eyes. “You do know that by doing that you are just attracting more attention?†Sherlock smirked. “Attention? Never!†He strode into the crowd of the pub, looking for the blonde head of Ariel, the empath-coercer. From what he knew, Ariel had long been the archenemy of Elspeth and of Obernewtyn, and was a highly intelligent yet sadistic and ambitious man. Highly attractive, Sherlock thought he’d have no trouble tracking him down. He walked up the bartender, a plain looking woman in her thirties. “Blonde male, twenties, attractive, slightly odd behaviour, kind of mean.†The woman frowned, and then raised her eyebrows in acknowledgement. “He’s over there.†Sherlock and John glanced in the direction to nodded towards. Sherlock smiled, tucking his hands into his coat pockets. In the far left corner was an attractive blonde male, his cold eyes scanning the room. Sherlock looked away and turned to Watson. “It’s no coincidence that Elspeth has been looking for Ariel. And it’s no coincidence that he’s here. In fact, I set up the card game that he’s wasting his money on, and I also bribed that beefy man over there to buy him drinks.†John raised his brows in astonishment. “And how on earth would you have known that?†Sherlock smiled. “Before Elspeth arrived, cold and wet at our door, I must confess I had been tracking this man for months. You see, I believe he is involved with an underground drug syndicate.†“I see….†Sherlock nodded, signalling a waitress over for a drink. “Now, I’m not sure who administers it all, but I believe Moriarty is involved.†John could hardly conceal his astonishment. “Moriarty? But…how do you know this?†“He’s been leaving me clues. Trust me, I know. And he’s the only man I know who is involved with the Twentyfamily gypsies. It is my belief that our lovely Elspeth is none other than Elaria, the woman we have been hearing about for months. She’s been connected with the rebels, remember?†John nodded. “She wants to find Arial because he has been working with Moriarty? I think I am putting the pieces together. Moriarty sent Ariel to coerce the Twentyfamily gypsies into kidnapping the Misfits?†Sherlock nodded, placing his fingers in a steeple. “Mmm…..†John frowned. “But I thought the gypsies didn’t care for landfolk?†“Oh, but they do,†Sherlock said. He glanced over at Arial once more. “Not all of them, of course, but some of them conduct business with them. Mostly trade across the seas. To the Red Queen’s Land, I believe. I think they transport slaves as well, but I can’t be sure.†John looked over at Ariel once more. “He’s leaving. We should follow him!†Sherlock and John followed Ariel and his men down a few back alleyways, careful to remain inconspicuous. Sherlock provided disguises for them both: a blonde beard for John, and a Jamaican beanie for himself. He wrapped a shawl around his shoulders and began to limp. John pulled his coat around his face and walked slower than he usually would. “Where are they going?†he whispered. “Mary, I told you not to butter the bread. If you butter the bread then they will hear we are entering the bake sale!†Sherlock and John continued following until Ariel stopped in the middle of the street. Sherlock continued to hobble towards him, with John following behind. “What are you fools doing? You think I’m stupid?†Without warning, Sherlock threw off his disguise and faced the Botticelli-faced man. “Yes, sir, I believe you are. Kidnapping misfits! Did you think nobody would know?†Ariel scowled. “She put you up to this!†Sherlock shrugged. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.†Ariel’s cronies circled Sherlock and John. John felt like running, but Sherlock’s demeanour was surprisingly calm. “Did she think I was that stupid? I know she dreamed about hiring you two. The famous Sherlock Holmes, the world’s only consulting detective. And Dr. John Watson, his sidekick.†John frowned. “Hey, I’m not his sidekick!†“Shut up, John.†Ariel smirked cruelly. “Yes, ‘shut up, John’.†He smiled. “In any case, I don’t know why Elspeth thought of hiring you two. Didn’t she suddenly forget of my powers?†Sherlock stood up straight and looked the man in the eyes. “You are defective. You may have empathy-coercion talents, but they won’t work on me. I have my mind palace.†Ariel scoffed. “Your mind palace?†John looked as surprised as Ariel. “It’s not a literally place…It’s just.†“You know, you and Elspeth aren’t the only Misfits.†He smiled and began to circle the Misfit. “Didn’t Moriarty tell you? I guess he forgot to mention it. And how could you have missed it? H'Rayka.†John took a step back. He eyed Ariel’s cronies suspiciously, watching every tic of a facial muscle. Sherlock smiled. “You’re not the only one who enters the dreamtrails. I’ve been watching you, Ariel. You thought Moriarty had abandoned you after he moved on to that cab driver. You thought he had forgotten about you after the woman in pink. And then Irene Adler came along… But –“ “Don’t say another word,†Sherlock whispered. “Tell me why you kidnapped those misfits. Where are they?? John stared at Ariel warily. “It is like the fairytales? Have you lured them in? Are you going to enslave them? Is there room for more in the Land of the Red Queen?†Ariel frowned. “How do you know about that?†Sherlock laughed. “Salamander. Or did you forget he was working for you? I have eyes and ears everywhere.†“Mathew!†Ariel’s cronies stood behind Sherlock and John, and John could almost feel them breathing down his neck. “I will expose you,†he said. “John and I will inform Lestrade on what has been going on and you will go down! You are a no one. You are a defective.†Sherlock smiled. “No wonder Elspeth does not love you.†For the first time that night, it seemed as though Ariel’s defences were down. His face paled and his cheeks flushed. “I will have her one day. And when I do, you two can be thankful that you both lead her to me.†He began to back away slowly, retreating into the darkness. “Know this, Sherlock Holmes. You and your comrade had a lot of investigating to do before you can save that poor girl. You think the gypsies are something to be concerned about? They’re nothing compared to what I have in store for you!†And then, as quick as a flash, he was gone. Sherlock and John blinked, disorientated. Sherlock grabbed his arm, just as Arial’s cronies began to advance. “John, when I count to three…you need to RUN!†I sipped the camomile tea Mrs. Hudson has prepared for me, anxious for news of the missing Farseekers. A fullmoon had passed, and she was nervously waiting for news about her beloved comrades. Sherlock entered the room slowly, a vague expression on his face. “Well?†she inquired. John walked into the room and sat opposite her. “We don’t know where they are, but we do know who has them. It’s Ariel, just as you suspected. And he’s involved in something much bigger than we thought.†Elspeth sighed, her eyes downcast. “Well, I really appreciate your help. Could you tell me about what he’s involved in? I have to tell Rushton.†“I will speak to him myself.†Elspeth stood up. “Well, I guess I should be off then. I’ll be back in three full moons.†She stood up and made her way to the door. After saying farewell, Watson closed the door and turned to Sherlock. “Why didn’t you tell her that the gypsy gang? It was their sign in the bank, wasn’t it? Three circling birds?†Sherlock nodded. “That’s a mystery for another day.†|
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