AN: Thank you guys for waiting so long. I've finally had the chance to post. Before I begin though, I would like to say thank you to this very nice guest review that I received not too long ago. If you're trying to start something, trying to turn people against me, go ahead. The fact that you choose to remain anonymous tells a lot about yourself. I have completely no idea as to what you are talking about. I have no knowledge of the series that you have mentioned. It is true that sometimes as an author your stories and ideas might be similar to fellow authors but that does not mean that they have used the whole story. I will only credit the works of authors that I have used. Thank you for calling me 'a pathetic' as well. Lastly, I hope you come to this website to criticise more people because this is a FANFICTION website and the people who write these stories have completely no feelings and will not feel hurt by your comments at all. In fact these comments are what we all need because tell me, which writer is going to stop writing under such lovely comments? No one right? May God bless you and watch over you, you lovely, brave guest reviewer. To those who are reading this message I'm sorry for wasting your time. I really had to address this case of online harassment. If you agree with the guest reviewer, then I suggest that you do not read this story anymore. If not please continue.

Chapter 24: A Dance

Sherlock paced the room for the hundredth time now, he was sure the carpet beneath him was wearing thin. Why was Irene taking so long in the room with John? How long did it take for her to transform John into an authentic vampire? Sherlock was nervous what if something went wrong at the event. What if The Father figured out who they were under the masks?

John looked at himself in the mirror. Irene must be a magician. He looked nothing like himself at all. He was all dressed up in satin and silks. Irene had helped him with some weird beauty treatment this morning and he had to say that he looked really good.

"Are you ready to go now?" Irene called from the doorway. She too was dressed up nicely in a figure-hugging gown.

"Yeah…" John murmured chewing on his lip now as he followed Irene back out. He wasn't sure if Sherlock would like him. After all…he glanced at the slender figure of Irene before him, she was graceful and John thought she looked stunning in the dress. His heart began to pound now as he reached the stairs. Sherlock was pacing, his back to him. John took a deep breath and followed Irene down the stairs. Thank god he was wearing flats.

Sherlock turned the moment he heard footsteps. His eyes flew to John immediately. The other man was dressed in that beautiful midnight blue gown. It all the more seemed to bring out the hunter's eyes. The perfume that wafted through the air also masked up enough of John's scent. If The Father were to meet him it would at least take him some time to find out and Sherlock could protect John in those few seconds.

He couldn't hold back his smile as John came up to his side now, the hunter staring up into his eyes. John was blushing, how adorable.

"You look amazing," Sherlock whispered, taking John's gloved hand in his.

"Enough of the flattery, we're on a mission here," John replied as he was led out of the mansion by Sherlock. Inside he was all warm and fluttery as Sherlock led him, hand on the small of his back. The heat at the contact burning through the layers of silk and satin and sending sparks through his body.

Once in the confines of the limousine that was to take them to Stowerling Keep, they began to run through the plan once more. All they needed to do was to find The Father. Sherlock suspected the one with the most powerful aura would be the one. And John thought that anyone who interacted with them would be in some ways related to The Father since he was so intent on finding them.

If a getaway was needed, Sherlock would take care of John while Irene and Kate took care of each other.

"Will Lestrade be attending this as well?" John asked. He wasn't so sure if the other vampire and Sherlock's brother had said anything on the matter at all.

"I don't know. And I wouldn't care much if Mycroft came or not," Sherlock said as he pulled on the intricate mask. He'd chosen to wear a full mask. He wasn't giving The Father any chances of finding him. If John didn't know him fully, he would say Sherlock could pass of as anyone. The mask he wore had three main colours to it, a pearl cream white that started from the chin and blended together with the black near the nose. The black circled Sherlock's eyes and made the blue-greys stand out. And right at the head of the mask was a rich gold that flowed down and framed the rest of the mask as well.

Irene's and Kate's were a matching couplet of laced black masks with little feathers. And John's own mask was a pure white half mask with gold pattern's lining the edge of the mask. They steppe out of the limousine now as it pulled up at the roundabout at Stowerling Keep. It seemed almost like they'd turned up at the wrong place.

John held on tight to Sherlock's arm now as they were escorted into the main building. They were all on guard. He felt the most afraid now as the vampire dropped them off at the ballroom. Everyone was a colourful array of masks and gowns of all shades of colours. He tightened his grip on Sherlock's arm then at the thought of all of them being vampires and he the only foolish human here.

"It's going to be alright," Sherlock whispered, placing his hand over John's as he reassured the other. He wouldn't let anyone harm John at all. As they make their way further into the crowd. John notices how the vampires turn to look in their direction. He is afraid that they know. His heart is racing but John steels himself. Within the folds of the skirts are his guns. He's got them strapped to holsters along his thighs as well. Should there be a threat they were within reach.

Irene and Kate had long since broken up from their group taking the other way as they circled around the room.

"How are you feeling?" Sherlock asked John as he scanned the scene of the ball, his eyes intent, looking for the one that would be The Father.

"On the contrary, quite alright…" John murmured as they continued walking, he knew Sherlock was just as on edge as he was. They were after all in enemy territory and you never know when someone would attack.

"How about a dance then?" Sherlock asked, there were two reasons to that, one being that he could get to hold John as close to himself as he wanted and the other reason was to explore more of the territory. He paused in their walk now as he waited for John to answer him, eyes catching the arcs around the room that led off into the shadows of the Keep.

John wasn't sure he'd heard the vampire right. "A dance?" he asked.

Sherlock nodded, looking back to John now, "Yes. A dance. A spin around the room, something like that."

"W-we didn't practice…" John said trailing off.

"No need to, just follow my lead," Sherlock said.

"What? Sherlock!" John gasped as the vampire took him by the hand and dragged him out to the dance floor, "No…I don't…I can't dance."

Sherlock smirked, "Trust me it'll be fine," he said, taking John's hand and setting it on his shoulder now. His own arm encircling the hunter's waist and drawing John to him as he instructed him once more, "Now step on my shoes."

"What?" John looked up to him, what was Sherlock thinking! "I'm heavier than you think."

Sherlock chuckled, "Vampire remember?" he said in hushed tones, "Now hurry. Take it that the dance is us scouting the floor," Sherlock said.

"Fine. Okay," John cautiously stepped on the vampire's shoes now and he was whisked away into the sea of dancing.

The Father stood now at the balcony that overlooked the ballroom. The sea of vibrant colours was a revolting sight in all actuality. He would much rather just summon Sherlock to him. But no. What fun would that be at all. The game was already in motion and he did love his games.

"Do you see him?" came Sebastian's voice from behind him.

Oh of course The Father saw him. How could he not? He would know Sherlock anywhere. The vampire was something he would never forget. Because Sherlock was after all his creator and creations always shared a special bond with their master.

"Should we dance?" Sebastian asked when he received no reply to the first question, he knew Jim had who he was looking for.

Jim reached for the other vampire, taking his hand in his as he let out a sigh, "Mmm. I think it's time I grace them with my glorious presence," he said in a singsong voice now as he took his most trusted by the hand and led him down into the ballroom.

"No one will ever know," he said pulling on the pure golden mask with silver leaf patterns and two doves, the symbol of peace at the crown.