Chapter 7 – In which John is propositioned.
The streets had darkened considerably during his time in the homely pub. John had started the considerably long walk home by leaving the crooked streets as soon as he could. The electric lights of London's streets glowed in the darkness, John's shadow morphed with each step, growing and writhing like a Spectre in the sunlight.
A sharp pain pierced through Johns head and he stumbled slightly while gasping.
"What the fu-" a high pitched ringing cut him off and he put his hands to his ears hoping to block out the sound. A pointless exercise as the sound was coming from within his brain.
The ringing tapered off and a voice, as clear as day, spoke within his mind.
"Doctor Watson." John stood stock still in the empty street.
"Who is this? Who's speaking? How are you doing this?"
An auto-mobile pulled up to the curb ahead of him, a tall, thickly built man stepped out and caught his gaze instantly.
"Get into the car Doctor Watson. I would make a threat but I'm sure your situation is quite clear to you." The voice sounded amused.
The presence in Johns mind withdrew, the pressure that he was unaware was even there passed.
John breathed in deeply and climbed inside the car.
A woman sat in the back, she had a stack of papers in her lap, her eyes fixed on the top sheet that was full of notes. His eyes wandered and he found that she was very, very beautiful. She wore a pair of women's trousers, not as uncommon in London as they are in Folkestone, along with a long sleeved white blouse. Her suspenders were thin and black and they traced along her breasts quite perfectly and John found himself trying to start a conversation with this almost kidnapper.
"Hello."
She looked up from her papers and gave him a quick insincere smile. "Hi." Back to the paperwork.
"What's your name then?"
She continued to write and smiled in amusement. "Er... Anthea."
"Is that your real name?" John raised an eyebrow.
"No." Another amused smile.
"I'm John."
"Yes I know."
John fidgeted in his seat. "Any point in asking where I'm going?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"None at all. John."
"Ok"
They didn't speak again the test of the journey, the scratching of Anthea's pencil the only noise aside from the rumbling of the engine.
The ride was relatively short; the scenery passed by changing from inner London shops and houses .to the more industrial area by the Thames. The fog was thick and heavy here, covering the floor a few feet up and swirling around the car as it seemed to float through the streets.
Anthea nodded to John when the car rolled to a stop outside of a large warehouse. He hesitantly stepped out into the darkness, the beams of light from the car illuminated an open door, John looked back hoping for a sign that this was where he should go.
Nothing.
John went forward steadily, through the beam and the weakened fog, his steps felt lighter as he walked towards the unknown but powerful man within the darkened building.
The sound of the engine outside faded away as he entered, his footsteps echoed against machinery that would bring about a new age. Yes, the world was changing just as John's life was coming to an end. 'Sooner or later?' he wondered, as he spotted a man who had spoken to him through his mind. He looked to be in his forties, his pinstriped suit and red tie gave him an almost regal air. His hair was neat and his face serious.. He stood in a beam of light like an actor on a stage. He was facing a single chair, waiting for his audience to arrive.
"Have a seat John."
John strode into the circle of light and stood opposite the man. "Is all this cloak and dagger necessary? You have my address, I can assume, a letter or a house call would have sufficed."
"When one is avoiding the attention of Sherlock Holmes one learns to be discreet, hence this place. The leg must be hurting you, sit down."
"I don't want to sit down."
He held John's gaze. "You don't seem very afraid."
"You don't seem very frightening"
"Ah yes, the bravery of the soldier. Bravery is by far the kindest word for stupidity don't you think?" The amusement left his tone and his next question was laced with a warning; answer honestly. "What is your connection to Sherlock Holmes?"
John shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't have one. I barely know him. I met him about a week ago."
"The day you met him you moved in with him and now you're solving crimes together. Might we expect a happy announcement at the end of the week?"
John would have walked away at that moment if he had any idea of where he was and thought he had a chance of surviving turning his back on who he believed was a witch. "Who are you?"
"An interested party."
John had assumed this man had something to do with his curse, that he was interested in Sherlock was something he wasn't expecting at all.
"Interested in Sherlock, why? I'm guessing you're not friends."
"You've met him; how many friends do you imagine he has? I'm the closest thing to a friend that Sherlock Holmes is capable of having."
"And what's that?"
"An enemy."
"An enemy?" John asked almost disbelievingly.
"In his mind certainly. If you were to ask him he'd probably say his arch enemy. He does love to be dramatic."
"Well thank god you're above all that." John felt a twinge in his wrist then and resisted the urge to clutch it, instead focusing on his surroundings as the painful sensation passed. It was then he noticed that there was no source for the light, no electric bulb hanging above them, just light from nothing.
"I hope I'm not distracting you."
"Not distracting me at all" John snapped his head back from the ceiling. A moment of silence passed.
"Do you plan to continue your association with Sherlock Holmes?"
"I could be wrong but I think that's none of your business."
"It could be."
"It really couldn't."
"It really could, considering your curse Doctor Watson. Oh yes, you think I couldn't tell? As well hidden as that curse of yours is, to a Wizard of my calibre it's like trying to hide an elephant in an empty room." He took a single step towards John. "You are in my city Doctor. You think I would let such a high level threat such as yourself wander around without several capable eyes on you?"
"You're a Wizard?" The wind had left John's lungs. "You're a wizard and you know! And you haven't helped me... Why?"
"Because we can't help you." He let that information sink in. "A puppet will always come with strings attached, I want you to report anything that will affect Sherlock to me, you are a dangerous companion but he wouldn't have me taking his new toy away. I'll pay you of course, you could spend your last days living quite comfortably."
"Why?"
"I worry about him. Constantly."
"No... I meant... Why can't you help me?"
"This is not a curse for just anyone to break." John said no more and the Wizard carried on with business. "I would prefer for various reasons that my concern go unmentioned. We have what you might call a difficult relationship."
"No. I won't spy on Sherlock for you."
"But I haven't mentioned a figure."
"Don't bother."
"...You're very loyal very quickly."
"No I'm not, I'm just not interested."
He pulled out a paper folder and leafed through pages and photos that John couldn't make out.
"Trust issues it says here."
"What's that?"
"Could it be that you've decided to trust Sherlock Holmes of all people?"
"Who says I trust him?" I trust him.
"You don't seem the kind to make friends easily."
"Well we don't." John fidgeted, he didn't like this psych evaluation.
"I had hoped my warnings would be taken to heart and you would keep a more professional distance from Sherlock Holmes but I can see from your left arm that's not going to happen." He reached towards John to grab the sensitive wrist with the cold symbol. "Show me."
"Don't..." A moment passed, John measuring the man's intentions. He gave in and held his hand out, the Wizard wrapped his hand around Johns wrist, squeezing lightly around the symbol. There was a brief feeling of heat, not warmth, that passed through Johns veins but it passed almost instantly. His wrist was released and the man stood back.
"Remarkable"
"What is?"
"Do you understand that curse Doctor Watson? Have you noticed its symptoms and reactions?"
"No... It doesn't seem to have a pattern."
"As I thought." He sounded annoyed and rolled his eyes. John was fed up with half answered questions.
"Who the hell are you?"
"A concerned party, Doctor Watson, that's all. Do take care."
With the obvious dismissal John glared for a moment and turned, he limped out of the circle of light, towards the still open door and the auto-mobile that waited for him.
A/N Ok so I went to post chapter 8 (which I just finished writing) and realised I haven't even posted chapter 7 yet! I could have sworn I had! I am such a nob. Anyway, sorry for the late update. My new job has left me too tired and miserable to even think of writing but since I'm starting to get into the swing of things I'll be writing more. Hopefully there will be at least two updates a month.
Many thanks to Bells13552, Chaoticmom, Link, Guest, Kat and reflekshun for your lovely reviews and thank you for all the favs and follows.
