Sorry for lack of updates. Hopefully this might make up for it?

Chapter 9.

Days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, and still Aleena hadn't returned. John was worried about the young Royal and her safety. When the third month rolled along he voiced his concerns to Sherlock. The detective simply shrugged his shoulders and said quite calmly, "Every-thing's fine, John," And continued his studies with the Grey Emerald.

John, however, was not going to back down this time. "How can you be so… calm at a time like this? Aleena is missing and all you can do is fiddle about with that stupid gem-stone." Sherlock ignored him in favour of staring into the jewel. With a frustrated growl, John picked up said jewel and threw into the other room. It landed with a thud in a corner, "You know something. Tell me what it is. Talk to me, Sherlock. Please!"

Sherlock huffed setting down his pen and pushing away his note-book. "If I tell you will you leave me alone?" John nodded. "Very good. Go and collect the Emerald, and for the love of God, be careful. If you've chipped it in any way you're a dead man, John Watson."

John rolled his eyes sky-ward going into the other room and hunting down the gem. "Don't see what all the fuss is…" He spied something silver behind a stack of dusty files, "…Got it!" Reaching out, his fingers brushed its surface, at the slightest touch a sharp static shock ran through his arm and body making him cry out. "What the hell?!" Behind him he heard Sherlock's soft chuckle, "Not funny, you git!"

"If you remember, I did say: be careful, Doctor Watson. Have you got yet?"

"No, I have not! Just wait a second, will you?"

"Waiting's boring." John heard the sound of a chair scraping back, footsteps approaching and then there was an elbow digging into his side, "Clearly you are incapable of doing the simplest of tasks. Move over." Sherlock nudged him out of the small space.

"I'm going to punch you in a minute, that's what I'm capble of." He waited for the yelp of pain but it never happened. Sherlock re-appeared with the gem safely in his hand. "Aw, that's not fair! You didn't get shocked!" The detective didn't give a verbal reply just a smirk before returning to the kitchen and replacing the gem back onto the tripod he'd set up in the middle of the table. "Well…explanations please."

Another quick glance at something in the jewel and Sherlock nodded indicating to the chair opposite. John sat, folded his arms on the table top and waited. Sherlock gave him another smirk before talking, "The reason I didn't get shocked, John, is because the Emerald is used to me."

"Wha..? Used to? Are you saying that lump of rock is alive?"

"Yes. Clearly you've not been reading my notes and completely forgotten the last few months. Remember when it rained the other week, the storm went through-out the night?" John nodded slowly, "The gems' glow dimmed and it looked just like a normal rock. But when it was sunny and those annoying brats were playing in the street..."

"...The Emerald shimmered in time with their laughter, I remember, and when one side scored a goal and they cheered...it floated, not much but just enough that you..." He stopped, looking at his flat-mate, " ...you smiled."

Sherlock nodded, "I did, because it proved my theory. The Emerald responded to the childrens' emotions. They were happy, it fed off their happiness and became brighter. When it was raining everyone felt miserable being cooped up. It had nothing to feed off of. The Emerald is powered by emotions, the bigger the emotion the brighter the Emerald gets until..."

"Until what?"

"Uncertain." Sherlock glanced down at his notes. " You know I hate mistakes. With something as big as this it would be an almighty 'cock-up', as you would say, to theorize before one has the proper data. I'm not an expert."

John huffed leaning back in his seat. "We need one. Before that thing goes off and takes half of London with it. We need Aleena back. Any luck?"

Sherlock shook his head. "No."

"Are you lying to me? Again?"

Another head shake, "No."

"Huh..." Sherlock looked over at him, " OK. I believe you... this time." He smirked a little, and then glanced at his watch. "Damn it! I'm gonna be late." Scrambling to his feet he made a quick dash to the bathroom shouting through the locked door, "You gonna be alright on your own for a few hours? I'm meeting a friend for drinks down the local. Don't know when I'll be back."

Sherlock grimance slightly seeing a mistake in his notes before replying, "I'm sure I'll survive." The Emerald in-front of him glittered in the harsh kitchen light. He raised a brow at the odd behaviour before glancing to his bedroom door, seeing it slightly ajar his other brow raised to join the first. " You go off and have fun with your little drinking buddies." John dashed back out again trying to flatten his hair while slipping on his jacket and checking his pockets for his key, phone and wallet. With a quick nod he left, saying a quiet goodbye to Mrs Hudson as she came in from the café next door. Sherlock waited until he was certain John had crossed the road and was far enough away, and that Mrs Hudson had settled down to watch her TV soaps before saying, "It's all-clear. You can come out now."

His bedroom door cracked open and a certain little blue spiky head peaked out. After double checking the coast was clear Classic Sonic came out of the bedroom grinning at the detective."Hey, Sherlock. How's tricks?"

Sherlock cocked his head slightly, "I'm fine. Where is Aleena? You promised she would come back and it's been months."

Sonic rubbed the back of his neck, "About that... Some weird things have been happening in The Void and the other worlds. The white-wash effect, that I thought was under control, is worse than ever." Sherlock's expression changed to alarm but Classic waved a hand quickly. "I promise you, Aleena is safe." He assured him. "She's been helping me trying to stabilize it, we did run into some trouble but sorted it and decided to come back here. I thought she was right behind me but...but..."

A fierce wind suddenly picked up in the middle of the living-room stopped him from saying anymore. Sherlock watched, awe-struck, as a bright orb of white light grew until it was the same height as him.

"What the hell?!" He cried, jumping from his chair.

Sonic blinked,"Uh... I guess she's alright after-all. Never mind." Hopping down from his seat the little hedgehog walked casually towards it. He folded his arms across his chest and started tapping his foot, "I'm waiting." From inside the orb it sounded like there was a fierce storm raging, the winds picked up something wild. By now Classic was starting to get worried, "This isn't right, " He muttered, "Something gone terribly wrong."

Something shot out of it with a pop, and then as quickly as it had appeared the orb died down. Classic and Sherlock walked towards the object now lying on the front-room carpet. When they got closer they found it to be a golden necklace but not just any necklace.

It was Aleena's.

And it was covered in blood.

Inside The Void, silently cursing the would-be Warlock who gave him the dud of a spell, a man walked amongst the white-ness with his tanned trench coat flapping around his knees. Wishing for a smoke he walked on until he spotted a small fleck of colour on the ground. His eyes widened seeing another and another leading away from him. Following the trail of red the man spied a small figure slumped on their stomach and his heart lurched. Shit! I'm too late. Rushing forward he fell to his knees and slowly turned the figure over so they were resting against him. He blinked. It was female, and very nice looking too. But now was not the time to get side-tracked. Pushing copper shaded hair from her face he felt for a pulse, sighing as he found a weak but steady one. Too close. Much too close. Beneath him she stirred, blearly opening her eyes (a nice emerald green.) and raising a shaky hand to his cheek in thanks before her face scrunched up in pain and she fainted in his arms.

With a huff he lifted her up and walked into the wilderness. "Hang in there, Princess. Constantine's got you." He looked around the vast area of white and frowned, "Now how the bloody 'ell do I get back to my house?"

It's been so long since an up-date I have NO idea where I'm going with this...thought I did. LOL!

As always, mistakes are mine and mine alone.

Another player joins the fight,(but only for a couple of chapters.)

Thanks for reading.

M, XX.