Chapter One: Interlude
"James Moriarty isn't a man at all. He's a spider.
A spider at the centre of a web. A criminal web
with a thousand threads and he knows precisely
how each and every one of them dances"
He stood and watched her with a slight grin tugging at the corner of his lips, his dark eyes glinting with unhinged malice. Oh how lovely it would be, he thought, to play a little game with her. Moriarty loved games. He was itching for someone to toy with, to manipulate, and she had most certainly peaked his interest. Why, he did not know. But he was eager to find out. It was no simple task to gain the attention of James Moriarty, especially someone as outwardly ordinary as her. Everyone around him was a brainless fool; so much so that it was an effort to stay alive due to the sheer boredom of it all.
His mind was unlike that of anyone else. It was a vast shore of knowledge, coupled with wicked intent, and he often found it difficult to control. It was as if multiple cogs were grinding relentlessly within his head, offering no sweet release. Unless, of course, he occupied himself with a game of his choosing in order to sate this miserable boredom.
He was manipulative, charming, and sly. An alluring but inherently toxic combination which left whatever he touched in ruins. Moriarty gleefully tortured others for his own personal gain, and not one of them could get to him.
Not ever.
He had constructed an entire network based on that little fact. Moriarty was untouchable.
As he watched her, his greed became overwhelming. He wondered what it would be like to flash such a pretty jewel on the crook of his arm. He wondered what it would be like to shatter such a fragile little doll, to have complete and utter control. He wondered, with a crooked grin, how long it would take to destroy her past the point of no return. The very thought stirred excitement deep within him. A sickening, almost insatiable excitement.
He decided to challenge himself. Moriarty thought it would be highly enjoyable to test his capabilities, and see if he could ruin this one more quickly than the last. At least, before his boredom caught up to him and he would be forced to...dispose of his toy.
Moriarty was handsome, there was no denying that. More often than not, his features got him whatever he desired. His dark, brooding eyes were able to instill a sense of trust within people, thus allowing him to take their minds hostage before they knew it. There was not a doubt in his mind that he would be able to do the same to her. However, a small part of him desired a fight. For him, the thrill was in the chase, and if he could not have that then there was no point at all.
With a slight lick of his lower lip, Moriarty turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowded streets of London.
Let the game begin.