Chapter IV: Still missing
Watson's POV
The next morning began like any other with one addition. Our lovely guest. She came up to our sitting room in good time before Mrs. Hudson brought our breakfast.
"Good morning, milady," Holmes greeted her and I did the same.
"Good morning Mr. Holmes, good morning Doctor. You play very well Mr. Holmes," she said without any marks of tiredness in her voice. Holmes blushed, which was very unusual to my friend.
"Oh I'm so sorry. I actually didn't remember that you were staying here when I started to play. Please forgive me. I hope you slept enough despite all that".
"Yes, I actually slept better than in months when listening you. And please, can we leave all this nonsense. You can call me Lilyann. No need for milady's and that kind of things. True, I was born noble but I also have grown tired to that when everyone I meet, addresses me as lady".
"Very well. As you wish," Holmes said to her.
"You can call me either John or Watson," I told her. She smiled and nodded a little. Mrs. Hudson brought our breakfast and we started to discuss about the day. I told to Holmes that I wasn't able to come with them at the morgue and Scotland Yard because I had promised to substitute my colleague when he was visiting his relatives.
"That is quite alright Watson. We just pay a quick visit at there and maybe walk back home. It is rather horrific place and I don't want to shock mil..Lilyann more than necessary," Holmes said. After eating, we all made our way out and about our business'. I saw Holmes halting a hansom and help Lilyann in before getting in himself. She looked so delicate that I really hoped she wouldn't be too shocked. I was very wrong.
Sherlock's POV
When we arrived at Scotland Yard, we immediately went to the morgue. I almost regretted that I had brought Lilyann to that place but I had no other chance since we desperately had to know, was the body indeed her sisters body. So, we went to a room were they kept the bodies until someone came to fetch them.
"We are here to see the body," I said to the pathologist. He glanced at Lilyann but said nothing and brought the body. Taking the sheet that covered the body of, he stepped aside, letting her to see the body.
"No, this is not my sister," her voice was just a whisper and she was awfully calm.
"What makes you believe that?"
"This poor woman don't have any jewellery on her. My sister wears always this unique necklace, which I gave to her. Or did she had a necklace with her when she was brought here?" she asked, still calm. The pathologist shook his head, denying. If I only were to know what was coming, I wouldn't have brought her here in first place. But I didn't know. I nodded to the pathologist who covered the body again and we left.
"I want to walk back," she stated outside. I agreed to that. But before I could say anything, she hurried onwards and I almost had to run to catch her. I could tell that she wasn't in a mood for talking so I only followed her remaining silent. She was struggling against tears.
"Did you know that we were actually twins?" she asked. It came as a surprise to me. She continued," Yes, we are twins and you know the bondage of twins. It is very strong. She loves me so much and cares for me. I remember when we were children, she promised me that she would not leave me, ever," she spoke and after that, silence fell again. Lilyann was with me but she walked as if she would have been alone. And in a way, she was all alone. That all lasted to our apartment. She went in and headed to her room. I could only follow her with my eyes and for my surprise, I felt very sorry for her. And something else that I couldn't identify. I climbed to upstairs with a thought that I wouldn't see her again today.
Watson's POV
I came back when it was already dark and climbed to our sitting room. Holmes was there but strange enough he wasn't smoking or playing his violin but he was just standing there, by the window, looking out.
"So how did it go? Was the body who you thought it would be?" I needed to know but before I continued, I saw the look on his face. He was sad and worried when he shook his head and looked towards the couch near the fireplace. I saw Lilyann sleeping there.
"No, the body wasn't who I thought it would be. But I managed to shock Lilyann badly. When we came back, she went straight to her room and I thought that I wouldn't see her again today but about an hour ago, I found her here. She was sleeping in the chair but I carried her to the couch," Sherlock's voice was no more than a whisper.
"So how did it go?" I asked again.
"It went fine until she saw the body. She asked about one particular jewel that her sister used to wear always. And this woman didn't have any jewels on or with her. I gave her false hope that her sister would have been found, deluded her. She was disappointed but the most alarming thing was that she didn't even cry," Holmes told me. I agreed that it was alarming.
"We have to let her sleep. She is in a state of shock and everyone reacts to shock in different ways," I stated to Holmes. He sighed and looked at the couch, "I know Holmes, she looks so delicate. Maybe she'll cry tomorrow when she realises what really has happened," I continued. Poor Holmes, he didn't have any idea of what to do.
"Go to sleep old chap, there is absolutely nothing we can do right now," I said to him and finally he left and I retired to my room too. I couldn't have slept more than an hour when I heard something. And at the very instant, I realised that it was Lilyann and she was screaming. I jumped from my bed and headed to the sitting room. On the way, I met Holmes who too had heard the scream. We opened the door and saw Lilyann sitting in the couch and gasping. She was covered with sweat.
"Calm down Lilyann, you must have seen a nightmare," I tried to calm Lilyann and approached the couch. As I sat at the edge of it, she looked at me.
"Yes and it was very bad. I must see my sister. I must tell it to her, we always tell our dreams and nightmares to each other. It makes them feel less bad. Where is she?" Lilyann asked from me. At this point, I glanced at Holmes and he seemed to be somehow scared of this question. He had moved near the window and I saw him shake his head. I stood up and fetched something relaxing to Lilyann. I was pouring the liquid to a glass when I heard Lilyann gasp again.
"Oh no, no, Camellia. Nooooo, it was not a nightmare. You haven't found my twin sister. Oh Camellia, where are you?" she shrieked and began to cry hysterically. She got up for some reason and then I heard Holmes yell my name.
"Watson!" he yelled and I only had time to turn around and then I had to run. I was just in time to catch Lilyann when she went unconscious, felling to my arms. Holmes came to help me, settle Lilyann back to the couch.
"What was that?" he asked.
"I think she just remembered and realised what has happened, that her sister is still missing," I answered, adding that we better let her sleep. Holmes carried her to her room and amazing enough, tucked her gently under blankets. Quietly he closed the door and we went back to sleep. Though I was sure that he didn't slept much while trying to solve the puzzle, now more eagerly than before.
I woke up at morning and after getting my clothes on, I went to breakfast. Mrs. Hudson had already brought it up and Holmes was at the sitting room too. I sat at the table and ate a while but noticed then that Lilyann wasn't there.
"Has lady Chauncey already eaten?" I asked from our landlady.
"No she hasn't," Mrs. Hudson replied. That alarmed me because usually she was up and going at this time of morning. I already recognised her manners though she had lived in the house only for short time.
"It's not like her to skip the breakfast," my friend said darkly, he too had made same deduction, "After what happened last night, don't you think we better go check her?" he suggested. I had thought the same and we made our way to downstairs where we knocked Lilyann's door. We got no answer.
"Oh Mrs. Hudson, would you be so kind and open this door?" Holmes asked politely from the landlady who obviously had something against the fact that we wanted to get in to a lady's room at this time of the morning.
"Of all the things in the world, I wouldn't have thought that you Doctor, would do this kind of thing," she snorted but opened the door anyway.
"Thank you Mrs. Hudson," I tried but she went to her businesses. We found Lilyann from her bed, sweating and shivering as if she was hot and cold at the same time.
"Oh dear," I whispered and hurried to help her. She was burning from high fever. I didn't have to say anything to Mrs. Hudson, who had came in too to check the situation. Quickly she went to fetch my medical bag and brought it back down. To my surprise, Holmes didn't know what to do and I had to force him out of my way when I started to take care of our guest who had become my patient. Mrs. Hudson brought cold water and cloths and placed one to Lilyann's forehead. I looked at the direction of the open door but Holmes wasn't there anymore.
"Go on, I have treated many fever patients without killing them so I think I am able to take care of her for a while," the dear old woman said, gesturing me to go after Holmes. I found him leaning his hand against fireplace and staring at the fire. He didn't say anything but I knew he had heard my arrival.
"Holmes?" I asked and was about to continue when he began to speak.
"It was too much for her. I knew it was but I took her there anyway. This is all my fault Watson".
"But Holmes, what on earth are you talking about? If you mean that you took her to the morgue and she got ill because of that then you are wrong. This is not your fault. You had to take her there to identify the body," I explained to Holmes but he didn't listen. He stared the fire but when he turned to me, I was very surprised because of the look in his eyes. They were full of fierce determination but I noticed that he had cried. He still had tears in his eyes.
"You really do care about her," the notion surprised me.
"How can I not care about her? That is what really annoys and bothers me but she needs my help and I am going to help her even if it was the last thing I would ever do. I am going to find her sister," he said and I knew that he would really find the murderer.
"And I will help you as much as I can old chap. I just go and give some orders to Mrs. Hudson," I got excited.
"No my dear Watson. We can't do anything today so it is best that you go and take care of Lilyann. She needs her strength from now on," my friend said.
Therefore, I went back downstairs and told to Mrs. Hudson about our discussion. She wasn't surprised at all.
"She needs Mr. Holmes and his help badly. I saw her feelings and also the feelings of Mr. Holmes though he tried to hide them," she smiled.
"No, that can't be true. We are talking about Holmes Mrs. Hudson. There can't be any deeper feelings between them," I didn't believe Mrs. Hudson.
"Mark my words doctor Watson, there is much deeper feelings than just care," our landlady said knowingly.