Death Series 4 - Price Of Death

by SongOfStars

The deeds of the past will always come back to bite you.

8. Chapter 8

(8) The Corpse Bride

The sun rose in a haze of falling dew & smoke. The remains of several bonfires still slightly glowed with smouldering embers. Garlands of flowers lined the edges of tables spread out both on the grounds & inside. A few of the younger Lycans from various packs were already awake & playing in the shallows.

Donovan slowly woke up to the sound of distant growling & glanced around. She saw the morning mists hovering over the ocean slowly dissipating. In the sand, she could see Jacob & another Lycan arguing in wolf language over something they had found. To her left, Anderson was standing by the remains of one of the bonfires, still slightly glowing in the center. Others passed through the mists like shadows as people had started to clear things up. She stood up & went to Anderson's side.

"Did we fall asleep out here?" Donovan gasped.

"I think a lot of us did," Anderson said. "It's like we were mesmerized. I don't think we've been asleep for more than two or three hours but I feel like I've been sleeping all night."

"Maybe it's done on purpose so we feel rested anyway," Donovan said. "Considering how late we all stayed. I hope the Holmes don't mind."

"Don't think they will," Anderson said. "It was meant to happen this way."

Donovan got her mobile out of her purse. "Oh my God! We need to get back. We're going to be so late!"

"Let's go uh, uh that way," Anderson started heading up the beach to the pastures. "I think."

"Careful of that stallion," Donovan warned as she followed.

The castle soon came into view. Sherrinford & Enola were both out on the front porch, offering goodbyes to anyone who was leaving. Anderson hurried up the few steps. "Sorry we stayed so late."

"Nonsense," Sherrinford smiled at him. "This is a special event. Some people are affected by it for days. We won't be hosting it again for over a century."

"But it is every year?" Donovan asked.

"Yes, but everyone involved takes turns," said Enola.

"Where's Detective Holmes?" Anderson asked.

"He's already on his way back to London," Sherrinford answered.

"That's where we should be by now," said Anderson. "We are already an hour late for work."

"Oh, I'm sure Greg will understand," Sherrinford said. "He only just left about fifteen minutes ago."

"Great," Donovan hurried down to the car. "If we hurry, we can catch up to him."

"This is my car, Sally," said Anderson. "Not a company cruiser. If we speed, Greg will give us a ticket."

"So we slow down as soon as we have him in our sights," said Donovan. "We should be able to catch up in half an hour."

Two hours later, Anderson was still driving in circles, or perhaps it was back & forth criss-crossed over the land. "Where did you say we are?" He asked after another ten minutes had gone by.

"I have no idea," Donovan grumbled. "Why don't you just use the GPS?"

"I can't."

Donovan rolled her eyes & groaned. "What is it with men & not asking for directions?"

"No, Sally. I literally can't."

"We're going to lose our careers!"

"The GPS is broken," Anderson finally managed to say. "It won't be replaced until Tuesday."

"Great."

"Use your mobile."

"It's dead. Use yours."

"Afraid I might have left it back at Musgrave," Anderson gulped. Donovan banged her head onto the dashboard with a loud thud. She sat back suddenly as Anderson slammed the brakes hard. Sherrinford had just dropped down in front of the car & held up his hand, holding a mobile. Anderson stared at the large Phoenix-fire wings as Sherrinford hurried over to the window.

"What the hell are you doing?" Sherrinford tried but failed to laugh. "I've been watching you from up there. You guys have been going around a figure eight. Sort of."

"My GPS is broken," Anderson explained. "We are so lost."

"You think?" Sherrinford scoffed, tapping something into Anderson's mobile.

"That has a password."

Sherrinford paused from tapping & looked up at him. His great wings swished sideways to pile onto each other. "So? I don't need to be a spy to figure out your rather lame code. Try harder, please." He handed it over. "That should help you get home." He jumped into the air & with a large flap, he was out of sight.

"Try harder, please," Anderson mocked to himself. "I'll try harder!" Muttering to himself, he changed the password.

"What did you use this time?" Donovan asked.

Anderson just glared at her. "Fine. It's something to do with the Titanic."

"Wow, they're right! I do like this new gadget."

"THAT'S SHERRINFORD!" Anderson & Donovan both yelped, glancing around.

"How?" Donovan exclaimed.

"Sorry," Sherrinford clearly wasn't. "Just trying out some new spy teques. I'll take it off, later."

"For your information," Anderson stuck his head out the window & looked up into the sky to see a far off fiery streak. "It could be about a movie for the Titanic & not the real ship. Could be anything. I could even be lying, you know."

"It was the date she started being built," Sherrinford said.

Anderson sat straight in his seat again. "Ok, I hate vampires!"

"No, you hate spies," Sherrinford corrected. "It's ok. Comes with the territory. Ta-ta!" The line clicked.

"He enjoyed that," Anderson snarled, resetting his password for the second time. "Thoroughly." Donovan went back to putting her forehead onto the dashboard. Anderson's mobile dinged.

"Nope. Still got it. Too easy."

Anderson threw the damn thing into the back seat, remembered he needed the map & got out of the car to get it back. Needless to say, two rather sorry looking, hapless officers finally arrived for their shifts three hours late. They were at the hotel from the day before where there had been a murder. Only now, the entire thing was burned down & seven people had died. Detective Holmes had insisted it was deliberate & had gone off to start working it out.

For the next few days, Donovan & Anderson had worked separate shifts, plus some overtime to make up for being lost. Late. Because they got lost. They had one free day off together & then Donovan's next schedule would be back in the helicopter.

They went out late that afternoon to a restaurant by the River Thames. Once seated at an outside table, Anderson put his mobile aside & said, "So ... there's two things I think we need to talk about, today."

"I think I know what one of them is," Donovan said. "But I already told you, I'm not going to get scared of life just because of a freak accident."

"Not that," Anderson paused to glare at his mobile as it dinged. "Something else." He snatched his mobile. "Oh come on!" He began tapping furiously.

"What's wrong?"

"There," Anderson put his mobile aside again. "That should do—" Ding! Anderson buried his face in both hands & swore under breath.

Donovan blinked. "Is that Sherrinford Holmes?" Anderson just looked up at her. "Is he still figuring out your passwords? He's hacking your device! You should get Detective Holmes to deal with him."

"I tried but John stopped me," Anderson said. "Apparently, Sherlock is just as bad." He fussed with his mobile for a moment before putting it aside once more. "I'll figure one out, someday. Anyway, do you know what the Beltane is?"

Donovan nodded. "It's a very ancient ritual party."

Ding!

"It is connected to some other ancient holidays," Anderson rolled his eyes. He sent a short & polite 'bugger off, please!' text before going on, "All of which have to do with appeasing spirits, like Samhein or what some call Halloween. Promotion of growth & fertility. Beltane dew was once thought to increase sexual attraction & maintain youthfulness. Among other things."

"Yeah, so?" Donovan took some of her pasta.

"Vampires can't reproduce sexually," Anderson said.

"Again, so?"

"While you went off & did your dance with one of the hosts, I really studied these festivals," Anderson went on. "I also watched how at first, the vampires were together at the front, leading, while the werewolves simply followed. Later, everyone mingled. Things happened to us there. Even the whales were attracted."

"Detective Holmes said stuff happen at such events," Donovan said. "We would see things few humans have seen before."

"But humans have been a part of those groups for ages," Anderson said. "The few friends vampires had back in the day were invited in & then, while it was all left to chance, some of them did not remain humans. Vampires can only reproduce by their venom, only if they bite into you."

"So you think someone we know might want to get turned after this?"

"Yes, I do," said Anderson. "But, I don't think it is because of the night of witchcraft we partook in this time." They stared at each other in silence, each daring the other to speak. Another ding sounded, but Anderson ignored it. He finally spoke. "Ever since you fell out of that helicopter, you've been different. Thinking. Planning something."

"You think so?"

"Ok, that was not a denial."

"I haven't decided anything yet!"

"Yes, you have."

"Philip!"

"By the time Sherlock dropped you off at home, you had already decided," Anderson said. Donovan just scoffed. "Sally, you do understand what he'll do to you, right? He'll kill you! One has to go through death. Literally die! Then after that, it's an eternity of pain."

"I'm still—I'm not, I ... come with me?"

"Like I said, you've already decided," Anderson sighed. "Hey, at least it'll clear up the issue with faulty helicopters."

Another moment of silence passed. Donovan laughed softly. "Yeah, it would."

Anderson tried another password & set it aside to wait. "So, what happened to not being scared of life?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're doing this so it won't matter if helicopters fail."

"No, I'm not," said Donovan. Anderson was in the process of rolling his eyes. He didn't believe her. "No, I'm really not. It's something that happened after."

"What?"

"While I was falling," Donovan began. "I thought I was going to die. Then Greg told me Sherlock was coming for me. I turned in the air & looked up. Couldn't see much in the sun at first, but then I saw him. Coming out of the light toward me, almost looking like an angel. Then he showed me his view of the world. Oh it is fantastic! The first thought in my head was what colour would my wings be if I asked to be turned & I've wanted to know ever since. I've been as desperate to see what colour I would have as how some women are so desperate to have a baby! It's almost an obsession. Maybe it is. But I didn't ask right away, just in case I was being silly after all that. I took a few days to cool off & think about it, but I still want to know."

"Whatever you end up with, I know they'll be beautiful," Anderson said in a low voice. Ding! "Oh my God! I hate him!" He attacked his mobile again as Donovan laughed at him.

They finished their meal in silence, apart from another ding which Anderson ignored for the moment, then went down to the river & walked along the trail to watch the sun slowly sink. Both paused to lean on the railing & look over the water. Anderson fished around in his pockets for a moment, then held something out to her. "So ... the second thing I wanted to talk about. I thought about this at Mycroft's memorial."

"Philip!" Donovan took the little velvet box & opened it to find a gold band with three diamonds in a row. She looked up at him. "This is ... engagme ... oh Phil! You would still want this, knowing what is to come?"

"I don't own you, Sally," Anderson said. "It's your life, your death. Your choice."

"What about you?"

"Well, something like that I think requires a lot of thought, as you say," Anderson began. "So, certainly not any time soon." He smiled at her. "I'll think about it. I can only promise that much. But ... immortality ... I don't know if it appeals to me or not. It sounds kind of lonely. It was the four of them for three thousand years. Always the four of them. Friends & family died off, either by murder or age. Even their wolves eventually die & not everyone you love will want to turn. Somewhere in time, you will always lose someone & being a vampire does not make you invincible. Look what happened to Mycroft."

"Maybe I should wait a bit," Donovan said.

"No," Anderson shook his head. "You go do what you have to do." He looked into her eyes. "Tonight."

"Tonight?" Donovan gasped.

"Yes, tonight."

Donovan watched the River rush on its way. "Well, if we are going to get married, we should talk about one more thing, first."

"What?"

"Children," Donovan said. "I already can't have them to begin with since I got shot in the womb at my last job several years ago before coming here & as a vampire, I really won't be able to have any. It was never really in the cards for me but, I don't know, if you want them, maybe we could adopt some day?"

"Hmm," Anderson leaned back on the railing. "Actually, I have a vasectomy."

"What?" Donovan burst out laughing.

"I don't want kids," Anderson. "Never have. My ex & I were a 'DINK' couple. Dual Income, No Kids. But then, one of her friends started having children & she changed her mind. She stopped taking her pills, without telling me. Basically hoping to trap me with a baby I had not decided upon. Unfortunately for her, I was already fixed long before I met her & had no intention of undoing it. That's why we were starting to have problems. When she found out about my operation, she really lost it. Then, I started hanging out with you & Sherlock noticed. It went downhill rather fast once he mentioned our affair out loud. At the same time, I was glad he exposed us. It helped the divorce go faster. Now she's free to have as many kids as she wants & I'm with a woman who physically can't have kids, anyway. Suits me just fine."

"But you're awesome with John's kids!"

"Yeah, JOHN's," Anderson pointed out. "Not mine. I love kids, but I don't want any. At the end of the day, or when they're being bad, I can hand them back. Besides, they're puppies, technically speaking. I have two dogs of my own, as you know."

"Wow!"

"I know all about your accident at your previous job," Anderson went on. "A woman who can't have kids. Kind of perked my interest."

"I had always thought you'd want a lot of kids which was why I was open to adoption."

"It's not important to me," Anderson shrugged. "But if we ever get that far & adopt, don't bring them on any cross-Atlantic cruise ships."

"Oh no, definitely not," Donovan agreed. They watched the sun slowly vanish. It was almost dark now. She took the ring out & put it on. A few sparkles appeared across the band before the sun disappeared. "So, that's it then. Nothing to do but go forward now."

"Yeah," Anderson nodded. "To your death in a few hours."

Donovan put a hand to his face, petting the sideburns. "I'll be back."

"I know you will," Anderson said. He watched her leave, then whipped out his mobile. "Alright, you blood sucking fiend! It's war!" He began renewing his password for the umpteenth time.

"Ohh, now things are going to get interesting," Sherrinford swung his feet off the desk & sat straight, watching the new code come in.

Donovan took a cab to Baker Street. Sherlock wasn't home yet, so she went up the stairs to wait by the door. She inspected her engagement ring in the meantime. Her whole life was changing instantly over night. She felt herself shaking a little. Excitement for sure from this proposal. But there was also some trepidation. She was going to die soon. Ridiculous. She would pop right back. But no, she had to die first. Donovan lowered her hand as she heard footsteps on the stairs.

Sherlock stopped on the top step & stared in surprise. Someone was standing by his door, waiting for him. "... You ... ?"

"Were you expecting someone?" Donovan asked. "Did I come at a bad time?"

"Yes & no," Sherlock replied. "I was expecting Lestrade."

"Oh," Donovan shifted away from the door so he could open it. "I could come back later."

"No," Sherlock said, standing back to let her enter. "He won't come tonight. But ... I was really expecting it to be him," He looked at her suddenly & his eyes changed from ice to that deep crimson red. "Not you. For this."

Donovan stared into that red abyss. "You thought Greg ... would ... " She suddenly realized Anderson was right all along. The vampires were expecting some human friends to want to be turned. She reminded herself it wasn't forced. This would be by her permission.

"He was getting really into it as the night went on," Sherlock said. "Usually those caught up in the night's power are the ones who ask. But I suppose I should have expected this as well, considering what happened the other day."

"I'm quite curious as to what colour my wings will be," Donovan said as Sherlock hung his coat & hat on the hook of the bedroom door.

"It is different for everyone," Sherlock replied, coming back into the main room. "Only thing we know right now is that yours would be new, never before seen." He slowly circled around her, like a vulture. She drew in a shuddering gasp. He finished his circle & stood before her. "I can hear that from here."

"What?"

Sherlock put a hand over her heart. "Nothing excites vampires more than a beating heart & yours is going way too fast. There's no need to panic. I will take care of you, right through to the other side."

"I know," Donovan said in a low voice. "It's just—"

"You're over-thinking it," Sherlock said. "Your mind knows the whole process & that you won't linger in death, but it also knows that you will essentially die for a time this night. It's the fight or flight response, mmm, mostly flight, in this case. Think of it like a shot, perhaps."

"A shot?"

"Even John freaks out with those," Sherlock smiled. "Yet he's a doctor. But he's absolutely terrified of the needles. I had to help him & hold him down for his annual vaccination."

"I think everyone does that," Donovan laughed. "How do you react for those?"

"I don't do those."

"Too scared?" Donovan teased.

"No," Sherlock thought of the needles he used for drugs. He was perfectly fine with those. "Too dead."

"Dead?"

"Vampires can not get any other human disease on the planet, neither can we be carriers," Sherlock explained. "There's literally no point in us stealing vaccinations from the living. Only thing we need to watch out for is the Flying Burn which is unique to vampric kind only & unfortunately, there is no shot to guard against that."

"You mean to tell me that no one in your family ever had any vaccinations?"

"We don't need them & also, we are three thousand years old. Those things did not exist back in the day so we never had any when we were human, either," Sherlock said. "Oh, your heart is back to normal."

"Oh, right," Donovan had forgotten why she was here. "So, um, what should I do?"

"Do?"

"Do you want me to sit down, or maybe lie on the floor or something, to make it easier to turn me?"

"Oh, we're not doing that here," Sherlock tapped something on his mobile. "Half the block is asleep. You would wake them up. You can sign this though, while we're waiting for the cabbie." He handed her a piece of paper.

"What's this?"

"I'm a man taking a woman out in the middle of the night to a secluded place to murder her, temporarily of course, but I am killing you, regardless," Sherlock began, heading for the fridge. "Not just any woman, a cop, who sometimes works with me. I want your permission in writing, if you don't mind." Donovan pinched the bridge of her nose for a moment. Sherlock came to stand next to her & pointed at the empty line with his free hand, while holding on to a closed bag with the other. "Just ... sign right there."

"Ok," Donovan went to the table to find a pen. Her hand held the pen over the line. Was she really going to do this? She looked the note over. 'I (blank line), have given Detective William Sherlock Scott Holmes the permission to turn me this night of (blank date line).' She jumped at a loud thud & looked up to see Sherlock slam his dagger down into something, pinning it the mantle.

"This case!" Sherlock snarled. "It doesn't make any sense." He glared out the window. "Cab is here." It was now or never, but she was still hesitating. He watched her. "What's the matter? Lost your nerve?"

"No," Donovan whispered. At last, she signed it by name & dated it, before handing it over.

Sherlock took a photo scan of it with his mobile, then opened the door. "Whenever you're ready." He headed down the stairs. Donovan took a long steadying breath & followed him out. They got into the back seat together.

"Where are you taking me?" Donovan asked as the cab moved into the street.

"Into the country," Sherlock replied. "The White Cliffs of Dover should do. Nice, open area, away from most people. So long as we stay away from the visitor's center. Try to sleep for now. It is over an hour's drive."

Donovan looked out the front window. Street lamps blinked by. "Can I call Philip?"

Sherlock cast his red gaze over her. "You can do whatever you like. You're not my prisoner." He smiled quickly, finding her amusing.

"Right," Donovan sighed, trying to tell herself she was not going to her execution, even if she sort of, kind of was. She sent a text to Anderson, letting him know where they were going, then lay back against the seat. She felt a hand cover hers.

"Relax," Sherlock whispered close to her ear. "I will take care of you."

Donovan closed her eyes. She didn't plan to fall asleep but suddenly, all too soon, the cab stopped on the side of the road, waiting. They had gotten here faster than she had wanted. She must have dozed off at some point. Donovan slowly sat straight & looked down. He was still holding her hand, fingers slightly interlocked. She looked up at him, their eyes meeting.

"Your heart is racing again," Sherlock said. "There is still time to back out."

Donovan silently shook her head. He let her hand go & both got out. Once the cab left, they headed towards the cliff tops with Sherlock leading the way. She stopped to watch him as he laid aside yet another infamous purple shirt. As he moved onward, leaving it behind, she saw the pale wings suddenly appear & trail along behind him. Donovan stopped by the shirt & decided to leave her jacket with it. She was wearing a simple dark blue tank top with spaghetti straps underneath, which was easily replaceable if need be. She noticed a dark black cloth bag next to his shirt.

Looking ahead, she saw Sherlock near the cliffs, standing in a ray of moonlight. He had one wing curled around himself & was nibbling at the outer ridge. Preening! Donovan laughed quickly under breath, watching him work on the front part as he waited for her to catch up. He let the wing sweep back behind him as she got closer to him & at long last, which at the same time was very short, she was standing in front of him.

"What exactly are you going to do to me?"

Sherlock put his right hand on her shoulder, pushing the small strap aside, & gripped firmly, almost enough to hurt. "The bite will hurt since it breaks the skin. Intense pressure like on a bruise. I will drain you of most of your blood, leaving just enough to transport my venom through your system. You'll feel extremely cold, the more blood you lose & you will want to pass out as you go into shock. Do not give in, yet. That's the danger zone."

"The danger zone?"

"Without my venom, you will die completely & not return," Sherlock said. "Draining blood out & injecting venom in are two different things. The moment you start to pass out, you will feel an unimaginable pain coming in. My venom. Like stinging bees, or fire. Once that pain starts, you are out of the danger zone. Let go. My venom will protect you. Have no fear. I have done this a few times & have never failed. You will see the dawn."

"I'm about to die," Donovan murmured. "It is a bit terrifying."

"It is but at the same time, it is all in your head," Sherlock said. "There's still time to back out."

Donovan looked out over the ocean, dark but shining in moonlight. "No."

"In that case," Sherlock began. "There is a bag with four bottles of blood behind us on the trail. You will need those the moment you have turned. It's enough for you until I can take you to the British headquarters of the Undead Law."

"Mhm," Donovan barely nodded. She was shaking again, more so than before.

Sherlock pulled her into a close embrace with arms & wings. "You'll be fine. I will keep you safe. Last chance?"

"Get it done!" Donovan snarled through gritted teeth. She saw his wings lift up & felt him nuzzle into the side of her neck. In an instant, she felt four sharp points sink into the top of her shoulder & she screamed in surprise. Sherlock pulled her closer, tightly holding on & began to drain her. He flapped his wings, lifting them up, away from the ground as he drank in her life force.

Anderson glared at his mobile when it dinged again. "How does he do it so quickly?" He almost didn't answer but for some reason, he couldn't stop trying & at last, he picked it up. But it wasn't Sherrinford playing this time. It was a text from Donovan. He sank into the sofa next to a corgi, curled like a large cashew on the cushion. "She's going to the cliffs," Anderson petted the dog's head. He stared ahead at the opposite wall. Ding! Anderson groaned. Sure enough, that one was Sherrinford letting him know he had once again acquired the password. "I'm going to get John to bite him," Anderson sighed. He stared at the mobile, but didn't bother to change the password. Perhaps later, he could continue this sordid little game, but for now, it was time to wait. He put it aside & leaned forward, head in hands. Even though she would be fine by morning, he knew she would be in a world of pain in just a few short hours. His mobile dinged again. Anderson glared at it before seeing the name. It was Lestrade. "Hi Greg."

"Sherlock just sent me a scan," Lestrade said. "Am I reading this right? Sally wants to be turned?"

"She's been thinking about it for a while," said Anderson. "I told her to get it over with tonight."

"Philip!" Lestrade gasped. "Does she not understand how much pain those creatures go through?"

"She knows," Anderson stood up. "She wants to know what colour wings she would get."

"Oh really?" Lestrade scoffed. "So the fact she nearly died from falling out of a helicopter didn't drive her straight into his fangs?"

"Apparently not," Anderson said. "We had a big discussion about it. But at the same time, helicopters won't be a problem anymore. But we do have another problem."

"What's that?"

"As I understand it," Anderson began. "Someone who is just turned disappears for a while. The Undead Law needs to train them & sort out their blood rations so they won't suffer from the Draculan effect. So, we have to rearrange all her shifts for a bit. I'll take a few."

"Good point," Lestrade sighed. "I'm at Baker Street right now, but I think I'm too late."

"You should know her better than that, Greg," said Anderson. "Once she sets her mind to something, you can't stop her."

"I know that," Lestrade said. "I was hoping to talk to Sherlock."

"I don't think there's anything we can do," said Anderson. "Except be there for her." He suddenly remembered something. "Greg, she asked me to be with her."

"Are you with them right now? Wait, you're not planning to turn as well, are you?"

"No & no," said Anderson. "They're heading to the White Cliffs of Dover. Greg? Take me with you. I have to go. She asked me to & I've only just remembered it."

Lestrade got into his cruiser so he could speed by using the sirens. After picking up Anderson, he turned them on & headed out of London as quickly as possible. Once out of the city traffic, he turned the siren off but left the lights flickering. Even so, it was still a bit of a drive. As they neared the cliffs, Lestrade slowed down & parked on the side of the road. Anderson opened his door.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going to get out to look for them."

"No, you're not!" Lestrade glared at him. "Close that door & stay inside."

"Why?"

"If they're here, Sherlock's about to go into a feeding frenzy," Lestrade began. "He needs to stay focused so he won't kill her, permanently. After that, Sally is going to need fresh blood. There are going to be two vampires out there soon & we are easy meals. Philip, you can NOT distract them!" Both froze as they heard someone scream. Lestrade grabbed Anderson's wrist & pulled him into the seat. "Don't you dare. He's already bitten into her."

Anderson sighed & closed the door. He looked through the windshield towards the cliffs. "There!" He pointed ahead. Both could see moonlight bouncing off pale wings as Sherlock lifted his prey into the air a little. "Oh God!" Anderson covered his face with both hands & watched over the tips of his fingers.

"I'm sure it only looks worse than it is," Lestrade tried.

With another stroke of his wings, Sherlock had moved forward a little & came back down to the ground. He pinned her down under him like a panther holding its prey. He lay over her, pulling in another long drink. She instinctively struggled against him but he heeded her not. He stretched his wings outward on either side as they vibrated in exhilaration. Her fighting became weaker as he drank in more blood & she was becoming cold. She finally went limp under him & stared out to the sea, slowly losing sight of the moon rays shining down. Everything was going dark. With no strength left to fight, she began to give up & die. Hardly had that thought crossed her mind when she suddenly found a new source of energy to scream again. She had thought the bite had hurt but now, something was coming in, burning into every joint & muscle in her body, even into the marrow of her bones. She arched her back against the pain & barely felt the pressure in her shoulder release like a spring or his weight lifting off from her. He left her to die.

Sherlock moved away from her, close to the top of the cliff. He rolled over, one wing spread out under him, the other stuck up in the air, catching moonlight, as he quickly cleaned up the extra blood from his lips. Sherlock looked over at her, still writhing against his venom. "They all fight it. Why do they all fight it? Let go now & such suffering would end." She didn't hear him, lost in an unimaginable hell. Her voice was hoarse by now. Sherlock ignored her as he took off the pendant & held it up. He flipped over to his other side, stretching up the other wing now & began poking at the crystal, much like a cat playing with a string dangling in front of his face. He lay on his back in the grass, letting his right wing droop over the edge. The wind rippled through the membrane, pressing it against the rock face. His other wing lay flat on the grass. He put the pendant back on & looked up at the stars, waiting for her.

It was over an hour before Sherlock finally heard what he was listening for. Nothing. He stood up & strode over to her body still lying in the grass where he left it. She would awaken any moment now, so he followed the dark trail back & picked up the bag filled with bottles of blood. Glancing ahead, he could see the flashing lights of a cop car far away on the main road. He headed back to her. By the time he returned, her eyes had opened. She glared at him. Sherlock crouched down beside her but before he could say or do anything, she hissed at him. Next moment, she had pounced hard, knocking him sideways.

"Now really, Miss Dona—STOP!" Sherlock grabbed her by the throat & tossed her back. "I know the feeling. I believe it's customary to hate on the one who turned you." She hissed at him again as he attempted to walk towards her, holding out a bottle. "Take this. You need it."

Donovan snatched the thing out of his hand. "What the bloody fuck did you do to me?!"

"Wow! Alright, easy!" Sherlock defended. "You asked, remember? I have it in writing."

After swallowing half the bottle in one go, Donovan shook herself a little. "What the hell was I thinking?"

"You want to know what colour your wings are," Sherlock answered. She finished the bottle, then leaned over with a pained groan. He held another one out to her. "The more you drink it, the better you'll feel."

"I knew there'd be pain," Donovan gasped after finishing the next bottle in one go. "But that—what the hell was that?"

"You're new life," Sherlock replied. He waited for her to finish the second bottle. "Well, I've already seen your fangs. You just tried using them on me. Now show me your wings."

"I would rather die."

"You just did by letting me kill you!"

Donovan fell to her knees & rubbed her brow. "Just ... give me a moment."

"Keep drinking," Sherlock handed her another one. She glared red at him. "I drained ninety seven percent of your blood. You need to replenish that as soon as possible before you go feeding on Anderson."

"He's miles away," Donovan sighed wearily, taking the bottle.

"Actually, he's just over there, waiting for you," Sherlock pointed at the flashing lights.

Donovan gasped & looked around. "Really?"

"He's been there for almost two hours," Sherlock said. "I can only assume that is Anderson's cruiser. Why else would a cop just sit there with us the whole time? I expect Lestrade is with him since I sent him a scan of your permission." Donovan smiled to herself for a moment before taking another drink of the new bottle. "By the way," Sherlock went on. "Considering that ring you are wearing, I do believe congratulations are in order."

"Mm, mhm," Donovan slowly stood up. "He asked me, today."

"Yesterday."

"Whatever," Donovan rolled her eyes as she finished the bottle.

"Last one," Sherlock handed her one more. "You'll be safe to be around for a short time. It is obvious you want to show off your wings to him before we go." He turned & headed for the cop car.

"Philip? Philip," Lestrade tapped Anderson's shoulder. "Look." Anderson followed Lestrade's finger to where he was pointing. They could see the pale wings slip in & out of the shadows as Sherlock seemed to be coming towards them. The wings disappeared when Sherlock & Donovan stopped by his shirt & her jacket. Donovan draped her jacket over one arm & followed Sherlock towards the car. Sherlock tapped on the driver's window & nodded. It was safe to open up.

Lestrade put the window down. "We're both here."

Donovan leaned over to look through the windows. "How come you're here?"

"You asked me to come with you," said Anderson. "So here I am." Donovan could do nothing but gape at him.

"I am a little surprised at this," Lestrade said.

"So am I," Sherlock replied. "I was expecting it to be you."

"WHAT?" Lestrade stared at him. Sherlock just shrugged.

"So," Anderson pointedly looked Donovan over. "What colour?"

"We're about to find that out," Sherlock took Donovan's jacket & stepped aside.

---

(AN: Tuesday. Any old Star Trek fan will recognize that all too well!)