Hi. So I noticed that there seems to be a lack of Sherlock/vampire OC fics here. And, being me, I decided to write one. No, this is not a Twilight-y version if vampires, this is my own, more traditional version. So, without further ado, Curiosity Killed the Cat. Enjoy!

update: There was a glitch or something when I first uploaded this chapter. All the spaces between the paragraphs were gone. I fixed it now, though. Sorry about that!


Caterine du Rien came out of stasis with a slight jolt, like waking from a falling dream in which one's muscles spasm before the bottom can be reached. She was staring at the ebony lid of a coffin. She was pleased to see that there were no fractures in the wood, thus certifying the quality. Her eyes lazily searched for and found the string that was connected to a bell deep in the Underneath, and uncrossed her arms to give it a sharp yank. Almost immediately, Caterine felt the nauseating evaporation of teleportation. Thankfully, it was over almost as soon as it began, and Caterine was lying on the floor of the Reawakening Offices, her pristine white funeral garb standing out against the black stone.

"Miss du Rien?" drawled a mumbling voice, horribly mispronouncing her French name.

"Yes?" Caterine responded sharply, sitting up and looking at the zombie.

"I'm sure you're aware of protocaahhl-" The zombie slowly bent down to pick up his bottom jaw from where it had fallen. He popped it back into place and continued. "I'm sure you're aware of protocol regarding your faked death?"

"Yes, I am. Could you show me to the front desk, please?"

The zombie moaned in reply and turned to begin shuffling away. Caterine stood and brushed the dust from the back of her dress and followed him, mentally yelling for him to hurry up. Halfway there, the zombie's arm fell off, but he hardly seemed to notice, and Caterine was forced to pick it up and shove it at the zombie, trying to ignore the feeling of the gooey decomposing flesh. When they finally reached the lobby, Caterine was itching to sprint to the front desk. Instead, she waited patiently for the zombie to leave, and walked calmly to the receptionists' desk.

"Can I help you?" the skeleton asked with a toothy smile.

"Yes, I just woke from effectively faking my death."

"Name and species?"

"Caterine du Rien, greater vampire."

"Ah yes, right on time. Fill out these forms please, and we'll call you when she's ready."

Caterine took the forms and sat in a seat a couple away from a mage with long blue hair. The form went through various aspects of her former human life, previous occupations, schooling, accomplishments, health status, age, and pretty much anything anyone would ever need to know. She knew these were only necessary because the Reigning Congress had a file on every detail of her life somewhere and they wanted to keep it as up to date as possible. Just as Caterine finished the last of many pages, she heard her name called. She rose, returned the forms to the receptionist, and followed the skeleton to her agent's office.

Caterine entered the room and took a seat at the desk. Her agent was a cheery, yet realistic mage named Adeline Jacobs. She had the business woman style down pat, with her pencil skirts and blazers and heels. She looked very human, aside from her dark red hair, which she kept at a professional-looking bob. Caterine had seen many people dying their hair in such colors, and even a few business women dyed their hair black or red, so Adeline must not stand out that much.

"Good evening, Caterine," greeted Adeline.

"Adeline."

"How did it go?"

"My death went according to plan. I regret leaving my friends behind, but I have grown accustomed to such problems."

"Very good. Are you ready for your debriefing?" Adeline asked.

"I suppose."

"Okay, let's get started. If you would direct your attention to the wall behind you, I'll turn on the projector." Caterine turned in the swiveling chair as the slide show presentation flickered to life against the plain wall. "As you know, this time you will be returning to the world as a greater vampire. This does entail some changes in how you conduct yourself in the Above. Although you will be terribly sensitive to sunlight, you can venture out during the day without turning to dust. Just remember to put on sunscreen. And you will no longer have the intolerance to garlic. You can still be killed with fire, though, so be careful around campfires and bonfires and fireplaces.

"Now, as for the current day and age, it isn't too different from 2003, when you left. There is some technological advancement, however. Cell phones have advanced greatly, as you can see. iPhones are very easy to figure out, though. We've set up a new iPhone 5s for you, and programmed it with my cell number and the numbers of a few of the offices down here in the Underneath that you might have need of. The postal service and Mortal Affairs are in your contacts, for example. Computers have greatly improved as well. We've also procured a new MacBook Pro that's all set up with the same Apple ID as the one on your phone. This Apple ID will be what you use for anything made by Apple, should you wish to buy anything else.

"In accordance with your former career choices, we've set up a job for you at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London. You will be a pathologist-"

"On one condition," Caterine interrupted. "I will be allowed to take blood from the cadavers to use for my own consumption."

"But Caterine, you agreed to-"

"I agreed to never drain a living mortal, Adeline. I have gone eight and a thousand years without once tasting a drop of human blood. When the Treaty with the Above Dwellers was written, it was agreed that all had to renew their signatures every one hundred years. In 2000, we were called to resign. I reread the article regarding vampires. It says that we shall not feed on the living mortals. Animals, of course, were fair game, but we are not to touch the living mortals, human, elf, dwarf, mermaid, or equestren. It says nothing of the dead. Therefore, I found cause to believe that dead mortals are available to us."

Adeline sighed and extracted a copy of the Treaty from a desk drawer and scanned the section concerning vampires. She looked back up at Caterine defeatedly. "You're right about that. Well, I suppose I can't forbid you to take blood from the bodies...so long as you're careful about doing it. But just in case, remember-" Adeline tapped one scarlet nail on the cell phone. "-Mortal Affairs Offices." Caterine grinned triumphantly and turned back to the presentation.

"Moving on, pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. You will be required to slice open dead bodies and inspect various organs. As a greater vampire, I expect you to have no problem restraining yourself. Can I trust you?" Caterine nodded. "Good. You'll be working with Ms. Molly Hooper in the morgue. You will be introduced as her new partner. Remember she is not your assistant; I know how you love to be in charge, but Ms. Hooper is not. Your. Assistant. She is your partner, and you are her partner. Hopefully you won't hate each other. Is this job acceptable?"

"Yes, thank you. I assume I will be taking up residence nearby in London?"

"Yes. Our contact within the British government has a younger brother living in 221B Baker Street. According to our contact, there is an empty 221C that the landlady would be happy to rent out to you."

"We have a contact in the British government?"

"Of course."

"Is he the Prime Minister? How does he have any control over affairs concerning Above Dwellers and Underneath Dwellers?"

"Let it be enough to say that he practically is the government. Living so close to his brother would most probably incite a meeting with him. You'll know exactly who he is soon enough."

"Ah. Is there anything else I should know before changing into normal clothing and going up?"Caterine asked, anxious to get going.

"Well, I can show you a few slides on fashion, but I'm sure you'll catch up on the styles soon enough. You are familiar with the British pound? They do not use euros, as Germany did."

"I'm sure I'll figure it out."

"Can you find your way around the Underneath to the Above shops?"

"I've been navigating this city for over a thousand years. I'll be fine."

Caterine stood and exchanged a nod with Adeline before making her way down to the lobby and exiting the Reawakening Offices. Her sensitive nose was immediately bombarded with the stench of death. Caterine simply halted the unnecessary flow of air into her nose and continued on down the street. She returned friendly smiles and the greetings of half skeletons and vampires and mages and fairies. The Underneath was a colorful, cheerful place. The only ones able to access it were the immortals. Originally it was a refuge only for the undead, but that was changed in a matter of decades. Mages, like vampires, had a need to fake their deaths to avoid rousing suspicion. And so the Underneath opened its welcoming arms to all immortals.

Caterine crossed the street to a less populated part of town. These were the Above shops. Vampires and mages in funeral garb were entering the mortal fashion-filled stores and exiting again with many shopping bags. There were even a few grocery stores where they could familiarize themselves with the foods of the current day and age. Caterine pushed open the door of a Macy's and began to shop. If she was going to be living in London, she would need to wear clothes that were appropriate for the England climate. She picked up a Vogue magazine and began to flip through it as she walked to the ladies' section.