At first John wasn't having a good time at all and he was worrying whether he was too heavy for Sherlock. But now as they whirled around with the rest of the crowd in time to the music, he could say he was having fun. Only he was still wary, keeping an eye out for any odd instances. He leaned against Sherlock now as they continued to twirl across the room.

"Are you tired yet?" John asked him.

"No. I quite like this," Sherlock replied as he rested his chin on John's head. They'd met Lestrade and his brother just now while on their third dance, those two had nothing suspicious to report. Everything seemed to be going alright. There was nothing sinister to this vampire gathering at all. It was just a simple masquerade ball. Maybe Irene's invitation was nothing more than a normal vampire gathering and had nothing to do with The Father. If so they'd wasted time. Then again…Sherlock thought as he held John no, it wasn't really wasted, considering that he'd gotten the chance to see John in a dress.

They were on to their fourth dance now when a male vampire cut in, "May I have this next dance?" he asked of Sherlock now and John froze. Could it be? Was this him? Was this The Father? No, no…he didn't want to alarm himself just yet, there were after all male couples dancing…Rather reluctantly, John gave a bow and then he slipped away from Sherlock's arms, jealousy brimming as he moved to stand on the sidelines now.

Sherlock was rather surprised at the offer of a dance from another male vampire. He kept his guard up and he knew that John hadn't been too eager to leave him and this new partner alone. The hunter was still keeping a look out from the side of the room now, leaning against one of the pillars of the arcs. There was no conversation between him and his new partner though and all was quiet.

So he decided to speak up first, "You don't like to talk much do you?" Sherlock asked, as he led the dance, he didn't want to hold this one as close to his body as he had held John though.

The vampire smiled, "What is there to talk about?" he asked.

"I don't know," Sherlock murmured, as he spun the other around. He took note of the way the man's emerald eyes stared at him, a vast contrast compared to his golden mask.

"You're a marvelous dancer you know?" the other complemented him.

Sherlock smiled, "And you're skilled enough to keep up with my pace," he replied. He seemed normal enough, his aura was innocent enough and Sherlock couldn't help but to add, "Those doves suit you."

The vampire chuckled, "Thank you, I love your mask as well."

Sherlock couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips at the compliment, there was something about this vampire that drew him in, in a good sort of way.

"I like the music that they're playing," Jim whispered seeing Sherlock smiling down at him. He took that as a cue to move in closer, just so that their bodies were brushing slightly. Sherlock didn't seem to mind at all with the way he readjusted his hold around his waist. A shiver coursed through him at that, how long has it been since he and Sherlock got this intimate?

"You seem to like everything tonight huh?" Sherlock said shaking his head as he spun his partner out and then caught him again. His emerald eyes never seemed to leave him, they were staring into his soul, almost as though they were trying to entice him. He felt as his partner's body pressed closer, he wanted the physical contact and Sherlock…Sherlock wanted it too.

John glowered as he watched the two of them dancing. He was jealous as hell. Sherlock and the other vampire were talking and laughing it was as though it were normal, as though he and Sherlock weren't together. Okay wait they weren't actually together. John hadn't confessed his feelings to Sherlock though Sherlock had already expressed how he felt to him…so maybe Sherlock thought because he hadn't confessed to him yet, it was still all right to flirt with others…well it wasn't all right.

He rolled his eyes now, folding his arms as he leant back against the arc. He noticed that the two were making a round again, coming closer towards him. John wished he could make Sherlock just as jealous seeing the two of them together like that. Then it all happened in slow motion when they passed, John gasped as he saw the face of the man who danced with Sherlock. Those lips were twisted into a victorious smirk as they passed by him. And John found those lips familiar. Why...he didn't know. Then he gasped right as they passed. He'd seen him before! In the apartment! The same smile. Sherlock was dancing with Jim! No…it couldn't be…could it? He needed to find out for himself and the only way to do that was to catch up to Sherlock and the mysterious partner.

"Lestrade!" John called pushing through the crowd now as he headed to find the other vampire. He needed to get as close to Sherlock as possible. He needed to see for himself and that meant he needed a partner to dance him out there. He found said vampire chatting off to one side with Mycroft and he whisked him off into the dance.

"Whoa, slow down there," Lestrade said as he followed John in the dance, the other was a little clumsy so Lestrade decided to take the lead instead drawing the hunter closer to him, arm around his waist as they fell in step.

"Take me to Sherlock," John said, looking up to Lestrade.

"What? Where is he?" Lestrade asked, giving the hunter a quizzical look.

"There," John indicated, nodding his head to the couple on the other side of the dance floor.

"He ditched you?" Lestrade asked, John wasn't telling him anything but he could see the hunter was anxious.

John didn't want to say it but it was the truth, "He let that vampire take my place. And that's Jim."

Lestrade stared at him incredulous, "Jim? As in Jim Moriarty who staked himself?"

"Look I know you won't believe it but when we get closer you'll see for yourself," John said as he held on tight to Lestrade who skillfully led them across the ballroom, headed for Sherlock.

As they neared, John noticed how deliberately the other vampire was holding Sherlock in such a as way to prevent him from turning towards his direction it was almost as if he knew that John was watching. They circled the couple but Sherlock seemed to be too interested in his partner to acknowledge him at all.

"Did you see him?" John asked, surely Lestrade, having known Jim longer than he had would be able to confirm that this unknown partner was indeed Jim from just a look at the part of his face that was left uncovered right?

"That's not Jim," Lestrade said, he didn't know what John was getting at here. Clearly the other vampire was a brunette, rich hazel brown hair and all...just what was John talking about?

"No look at his lips. It's him, the smile, it's exactly the same as the one in the pictures that you guys took!" John said staring at the man who was dancing with Sherlock.

"You're mistaken. Jim doesn't have green eyes or brown hair," Lestrade said.

"What? What! No he looks just like those pictures in the house!" John said raising his voice now and causing some of the vampires to look in his direction.

John was sure Lestrade was looking at someone else. The man that danced with Sherlock was definitely Jim and he did not have green eyes or brown hair. Those eyes were a dark depthless black and they looked to him now as a devilish smirk crossed his lips. It was a trick! No one but him could see Jim for who he was and Jim knew that! So no one would believe John…

"Come on you must be tired," Lestrade said as he led John away from the two and off the dance floor. The hunter was clearly getting too worked up over this matter and he was causing a scene. He didn't think it was for the best since John was a human and if any of the vampires found out…well…it wouldn't be good.

"No…No…" John protested as he fought against Lestrade's arms now. He needed to confront that man. He broke free from Lestrade's grasp now and just as he did Sherlock's partner took a bow and ended the dance. Jim was going to make his exit. He wouldn't allow that, gathering his skirts now he pushed through the crowd cutting through them so that he could get to Jim quickly.

Just as he was free he bumped straight into the tall figure of a blonde vampire, a sharp pain split through his head and that was the last thing a saw.

AN: Sorry for the super late update! I'm back to school and bogged down with work! Also I sort of fell out with this fandom for awhile what with Supernatural S9 back on! Don't worry though, I'm not thinking of dropping the story. I'm going through with it just that the updates might be slower. I do apologise! If you liked this chapter, do leave a comment to let me know. Thanks and I'll see you in the next chapter!