I've been promising a sequel to my fic THE RED AND THE GREY for... well, forever, basically. I finally have a little time to do that, so I thought I'd begin posting now. If you haven't read THE RED AND THE GREY, this might not make a ton of sense, but I'll give you the bullet points: This is set after the season three finale, and assumes that Jane did, in fact, kill Red John when he gunned down Timothy Carter. We're AU from that point on- no Lorelei (woot!), no Wainright... You get the picture. Everything else you should be able to sort through pretty easily once you begin reading. Though THE RED AND THE GREY is still right here, if you feel the need/yen to read.
The goal is to post twice a week 'til we're done, though I may fall short on that at times. Tonight, just to get us rolling, I'll post the prologue and chapter one, and then I'll post the next chapter on Sunday. Hope you enjoy!
PROLOGUE
The bracelet glittered like the night sky—diamond stars in a blue-black setting, the jewelry cool, tantalizing, in her small hand. She loved diamonds; always had. John told her once that he would buy her a house filled with them. I'll hide them in your cupboards and under your bed. I'll decorate your ceiling with them, Ellie, and you'll sleep safe under the glittering lights.
She'd laughed at him, of course… But she still loved the idea.
The Sad Man groaned. She scowled.
"You're supposed to be still," she whispered. His face was already contorted in a death grimace—that look John had taught her to anticipate. She dipped her fingers in the blood leaking from the wide, smiling gash in his neck.
All around her, jewels sparkled and shone. She did love this store. Ellie twirled and waltzed to the nearest wall and ran her index and middle fingers over the plaster in a smooth, even circle. Her heart felt as though it would burst; it had been far too long since she'd had such fun. She looked up. There was a video camera, she knew, but the Sad Man had disabled it for her.
He had been very helpful. And, really, not terribly sad until today.
She clasped the bracelet around her delicate wrist, then smashed another glass case with the grip of her knife. She held the blade when she did it, feeling the razor-sharp edge slice into her palm. It burned and tingled and set her blood alight.
Pain makes us more alive, John had told her. She had agreed. She still did. She completed the howling smiley with her own blood, finishing off the eyes with a flourish. Ellie took one more gem—this one large and brightest blue, like Patrick Jane's eyes—and put it in her pocket.
She stopped beside the Sad Man and plugged his nose with her thumb and forefinger. Then, she lay her other hand, the palm still dripping blood, over his mouth. "Ssshhh," she whispered lovingly. "Almost done."
The Sad Man's eyes bulged. He puffed and gurgled, struggled and strangled and, finally, slumped.
Ellie packed up her diamonds and gems, leaving behind quite a mess. Father wouldn't be happy with her, she knew. But she'd been so bored these last few months, with John gone and Father insisting they stay so very quiet. Europe was a bore when one couldn't raise just a teeny bit of hell.
She wondered what Patrick and Teresa would think, when they read of her overseas adventure. The thought made that delicious tingle return to her head. Father had cut their good times short in Mexico, but she wouldn't be so easily dissuaded. They were such fun. She could hardly wait to play with them again.
TBC
And, we're off! Hope you're with me so far- I'd love to hear your thoughts!