(10) Of Ash & Fire
It had been almost three weeks now since John's latest imprint & he was no closer to solving it than Sherlock was to solving the burned hotel. Both were missing key components of their cases & though Sherlock seemed to have found some headway with Sherrinford's use of the street cameras, John still had no idea on how to save either of them, despite a growing sense of urgency about it.
It would be a long, slow process, but as a last resort, Sherlock had set Sherrinford up with Lestrade to begin looking at footage of the day that pen came into their lives by sifting through everyone who had entered the hotel, hoping that Lestrade might recognize whoever it was. Unfortunately, the only camera available was from across the street, so it was only possible to see the faces of anyone coming out of the main doors to the hotel's lobby.
The only thing going right it seemed, was for John when he got a large message sent to his blog's private box, all about Lycan pups that was rather helpful. After reading through it, John decided to probe a little to see if he could find more on the Wells pack.
"Good to know their first teeth can't poison anyone," John wrote back. "Not until after puberty & the tips turn yellow. I really wish we could hide our fangs like vampires do. Sherlock looks completely human most of the time."
"When they experience their first full moon, that's when Lycan venom will appear. Vampires are a bit longer than us so they can drain blood. We don't necessarily drink blood, but we could kill & eat an entire human while in wolf form. Vampires won't eat human flesh, just drink their blood, so they need longer fangs to suck in."
"I find it makes them a bit feline-like," John returned. "Sherlock's not happy unless he has something to hiss at. I was quite surprised to find out about all this, when he came back from that Moriarty case. I guess it's a good thing, though. Since I accidentally got activated, Sherlock & his siblings have taken care of me during full moons. Who is your vampire protector?"
The reply was a long time in coming. John had time to grab something to eat before finding it. "We don't have any." John stared at the message. It was dangerous not to have a vampire around to play with during full moon. Another one popped up in his face before John had time to answer. "Sorry. I'm a bit busy. Sent too soon. Don't worry about it. My family are well set up & the entire basement under the house is soundproof & securely locked."
"I'm about to go out. I could ask Sherlock about taking on another pack. They really only have the Grant pack. I'm just one extra Watson Were. How many of you are there?"
The answer to that came in a little too quickly. "Thanks but we're better off alone. There are technically eight of us, but only five of us, including me, have to deal with the full moon." A moment later, a second line popped up. "For now."
John finished his coffee while pondering that one. Why were they hiding? One thing was obvious. Something had happened to the Wells pack. He put the empty mug aside. "No one has to be alone, but it is upto you. I'll put up some pictures of the pups later. Gotta go." He took a screen shot of the entire conversation & sent it to Sherlock before signing out.
For once, Sherlock didn't reply right away. It wasn't until late in the afternoon, when John had returned home from some shopping with the pups, that his text alert went off. John placed the pair into the playpen before reading it.
"We still have not found anything on a Wells wolf pack. Sherrinford has now alerted the Undead Law about it. Five out of eight active Lycans indicates the other three are either as young as your own pups or not activate, like your sister. 'For now' most likely means growing pups."
John felt slightly guilty about trying to find out more. "Sherlock, be careful. I get the feeling they value privacy & don't want to be bothered."
"The fact that they are unknown & hiding indicates they are new, possibly Lycans by being bitten & turned & do not understand the way things work, yet. It has happened before. The Undead Law has members who deal with new Lycans & gradually integrate them into not only our society but the world's. They will be fine when they're found."
"If they are to be found, then I would like to be the one to help them. David knows me, already."
"Yes, that would probably be wise."
"May I have a tin of that honeycomb, please?"
"What would you do with an entire tin of honeycomb?"
"Entice David with it. Since they have no vampire protectors, I doubt they get much honeycomb, if at all. He might like it. Worth a try to see if he can come out of his shell."
"Good idea. I'm at Mycroft's estate with Enola if you want to come over to get some. Might be best to keep some on you at all times in case you run into David, again. Think you won't be tempted to eat it?"
"Sherlock 'eye roll icon/angry icon/laugh icon' I'll grab a cab."
"What? It's an honest question."
John rolled his eyes & grab the two pups. "Come on. We're going back out."
He arrived at the familiar estate about forty minutes later. John glanced around at the place, seeing the horses Mycroft had, grazing in the fields. Serenity was near the gate looking over at the driveway, as if watching the cab retreat. Part of the barn where John had once bitten Enola's wing stuck out from behind the mansion. He saw Sherlock & Enola standing on the side balcony & hurried over. He placed the stroller by the wall next to the loveseat swing on the balcony.
Enola picked up Jessica. "So what's this I hear about your brother growling, already?" She asked. Jessica looked up at her.
"I'm trying to train them not to do that," John said.
"It won't work," Sherlock & Enola said at the same time.
"She's going to pick it up from her brother," Enola added. "Then you'll be growling right back at them in a feeble attempt to shut them up."
"No, I won't."
"You've already done it," Sherlock teased.
"Yes, I did," John gave up.
Enola put Jessica back into the stroller & turned to slide open the door to the parlour. "Tea should be about ready. Do you want some, John?"
"Uh sure, please," John said. Sherlock stretched out on the loveseat, feet up over the far arm. John noticed the boots & spurs Sherlock was wearing. "You were riding?"
"Enola & I went out for three hours," Sherlock said. "I used Lady Saffie, one of Mycroft's mares."
"She's probably a lot safer than Bach."
Sherlock laughed at him. "Bach is a very good, gentle horse. He also only responds to sign language. I taught him everything." John just gaped at him. "If people would stop shouting at him & waving their arms, he wouldn't freak out so much. It confuses him. I never taught him verbal commands & seeing people wave their hands around but not actually signing does not make sense to him. He doesn't understand babbling sign language. Only real sign language."
"You taught a horse sign language?!"
"I've had him since he was a colt," Sherlock said. "Plenty of time to train him up my way. I'll show you next time we're up at the castle."
"You taught a horse—I really need to see that!"
"You will," Sherlock assured. Both glanced around, hearing something shatter. "Ennie?" Sherlock called out to his sister. He stood up & went in after her with John following close behind. They found her in the kitchen gingerly picking up the remains of a saucer plate that had smashed on the floor.
"Slipped from my hands," Enola said, standing up quickly after collecting the five big pieces. John wetted a paper towel & wiped down the area to pick up any tiny leftovers. She threw out the broken pieces, then turned & suddenly stumbled back until she met the counter.
"Are you alright?" Sherlock moved closer to her.
"I think I'm a little worn out from that long ride," Enola said.
"It was barely three hours," Sherlock said. "You used to be able to ride for an entire day & that was before our lives became a living hell."
"Sherlock ... " Enola closed her eyes & shook her head. Her whole body started shaking & next thing anyone knew, Enola was lying at Sherlock's feet in a dead faint.
Enola slowly opened her eyes & looked around. She was in a white room, hooked up to some machine. Sherlock was stretched out in a chair, watching her. She pushed herself up against the pillows. "Feeling better?" Sherlock asked.
"What happened?"
"I asked you something a couple weeks ago, but you only just answered it, today. You had sex."
"Oh my G—not that again! I'm going to friggen murder you!"
"Unprotected sex," Sherlock went on. "You're pregnant."
"WHAT?" Enola put both hands on her face in surprise.
"That's why your scent is changed," Sherlock went on. "Higher levels of pheromones."
"No. NO!"
"I thought you wanted to continue our line before coming back to us?"
"Well, yes but not right now!"
"Apparently, it is now. OUCH!"
Enola had thrown a small bottle she had grabbed from the side table into his face. "Will you shut up & let me think?"
"I don't understand. Do you want the baby, or not?"
"Yes, I want a baby, but not now. Why is this happening now?"
"Unpro—" Sherlock wisely shut up at his sister's glare. He tried another topic. "Do you know who the father is?"
"Charles Menzel," Enola muttered, holding her head in her hands.
"Mycroft's limo driver."
"He's my driver now," said Enola.
"Something more than your driver," Sherlock replied out the corner of his mouth.
"John? JOHN!" Enola called.
"He's gone downstairs to get some tea."
"As soon as he's back, I'm going to make him bite you."
"I'd like to see you try."
"Ohh God!" Enola lay back on the pillows. "Why is this happening to me right now?"
"As vampires, we are sterile," Sherlock started. "You simply did not think about that fact when you became human again & continued having sex like you usually do. Has it never once occurred to you to use some sort of protection or pill?"
"No."
"I rest my case."
"I am not your case, William!"
"But I am right, aren't I?"
"JOHN!" Enola bellowed towards the door.
The door opened, but it was a nurse, not John. She cast a tentative look over Sherlock before approaching the bed. Sherlock moved to the door. "I'll go check up on John."
"You do that, Will," Enola groused. Sherlock turned to glare at her, walking backwards a few steps. Enola silently wished he would turn & smash into the door frame & a second later, he totally did, crunching his nose on the way by.
"Oof!" On top of it all, the door slammed shut on his fingers. "OW!"
Hearing him hiss, Enola burst out laughing. "Yes!"
John was in the lobby, having tea with Mike Stamford, when he saw Sherlock come marching in. "What happened to you?"
Sherlock glared red at him. "Enola distracted me & I lost a war against the door frame." John & Mike both turned away, snickering.
"Is she going to be alright?" Mike asked.
"The nurse is with her right now," Sherlock muttered, still unimpressed.
The three of them waited for almost half an hour before Enola herself finally joined them. "They're telling me to take it really easy."
"You have been doing a lot," John said. "Now that you know, you can regulate yourself better."
"Mhm," Enola leaned on the table. "I'm also something of an enigma in the medical world now."
"Why?" Sherlock asked.
"Well," Enola sighed. "In about nine months, I'm going to break every single human reproductive record, being the oldest woman to ever give birth at around three thousand years old." She shared a look with Sherlock before both started laughing.
"You don't look a day over twenty," John said, joining in.
"Thanks, John," Enola said. "Why don't I take the pups for the full moon? They're still safe, right? I need some practice."
"Sure," John agreed, still laughing.
The next full moon was in two days. It was a clear night & both Sherrinford & Sherlock were out with the packs, handing out chunks of honeycomb to any nearby wolf. Jacob & John ended up by the shore. Jacob jumped right in for a late night swim while John stood in the shallows, letting his paws get wet but nothing more. Well, nothing more until Sherlock came up behind the gold wolf & loudly clapped his hands at John's tail. With a yelp, John bolted straight into the waves.
"Whoa oh!" Sherrinford gasped for air. "Did you see him jump?"
"Yes & I also see him swimming around," Sherlock pointed out. "All werewolves like water. He just needed some help."
"He's going to yell at you, tomorrow."
"I'll throw him into the pool," Sherlock stubbornly stated, as the two soaking wet wolves climbed out near the yacht. They shook out their fur coats & ran side by side along the pier before jumping in again. "See? He went in on his own, now."
"It's just his dog form," Sherrinford said. "I'd like to see you try that during his human days." Sherlock reached over & yanked Sherrinford's pony tail. "KNOCK IT OFF!" Sherrinford side-stepped away from Sherlock, clutching his precious hair for dear life.
Jacob & John came out on the sand again & ran after each other. Others of the Grant pack soon joined them. A dark brown & grizzled looking wolf lay down near the two vampires, watching the other wolves play but didn't join them. She was an old wolf, the grandmother of the Grant pack & was content to watch them run around. Or perhaps it was the fact she got extra honey combs.
Late the next afternoon, when all the wolves had shifted back & had rested, John went straight for Sherlock & sure enough, the first thing he asked was, "Did we go in the ocean, last night?" Sherlock merely grinned. John rolled his eyes. "I don't like swimming. I don't even know how."
"Last night proves otherwise," Sherlock replied. "Just put one paw in front of the other." John glared gold at him, earning another wicked grin. "Come on," Sherlock headed for the door. "Let me show you what to do with Bach."
"Sherlock," John groaned as he followed.
The silver stallion was already tied & waiting. Sherlock never once bothered to speak to him. Instead, he made a sign, then told John what he was signalling. "Harness," Sherlock began. "I always make that sign before I put anything on him so he knows he will be getting his saddle & bridle. Or blanket if he needs one so he will know I am putting something on him." Sherlock soon had Bach standing ready with bridle & saddle on him. He held the reins. "Riding him is like any other horse." He made another signal, then pointed at Bach's stomach & John could see the horse suck in immediately, allowing Sherlock to tighten the girth once more. "Pull in, was the sign." Next, he unclipped the reins from the bridle. Sherlock signed another word. Bach immediately went & nosed open the gate. "Gate," Sherlock told John after it was done, proving once again that Bach was paying heed to signals. Sherlock made the horse do about as many tricks as a dog, all by signing while John stood there in complete amazement. Sherlock finally beckoned Bach over to him & put the reins back on. "I can even make him roll over, but he has his saddle on right now. He's just like a dog, really, but with sign language."
"That's bloody brilliant!" John gasped while Sherlock tied Bach up again & began removing all the tack.
"It took a long time to train him," Sherlock said, placing the saddle onto a post in the tack room.
"Why sign language?" John asked. "Is he deaf?"
"Not that I know of," Sherlock replied. "It's just to be different. I have full control of him. He's my horse only, ever since he was a colt." He turned Bach loose into the pasture lands before heading to the drive way with John.
Back in London, Lestrade was waiting for them. "I found him," he led the way to the holding cells in which someone in their mid-teens was waiting. "He's the guy who gave me that pen."
Sherlock made as if to step into the cell but John pushed through & stood in front of the kid. "How are you planning to do it?"
"Do what?"
"Save it!" John snapped. "I saw your plans when I touched your pen. You want Sherlock & Sherrinford executed by the Undead Law. I intend to stop you!"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Your pen!" John tried again. "The one you let Greg use at the hotel. I handled it after & got an imprint of a double execution for the Holmes men! It's your pen. You're setting them up!"
"It's just a pen," the kid shrugged. "Not even really mine. I pick up pens & hand them out all the time."
John glared at him, not quite believing as Sherlock finally managed to speak. "Who are you?"
"Kyle! My name is Kyle & if I had known passing on random pens gets you thrown in jail, I never would have offered."
Sherlock put a hand on John's shoulder. "My friend here viewed a rather dangerous imprint from that pen that needs to be diverted as soon as possible. If it isn't yours, then where did you get it?"
"My Dad's office," Kyle said. "Literally anyone could have had it before me or my Dad."
"What were you doing at the hotel?" Sherlock asked.
"Waiting for my girlfriend," Kyle said. "She flew in from Ireland & that was her hotel. I left with her. Good thing, too. That place burned down."
"What is your girlfriend's full name, her flight number & the address to your father's office?" Sherlock demanded. Kyle remained silent. "I will check out your story one way or the other. My brother works for the Secret Service. It would be a lot easier & quicker if you told me, but either way, I will find out."
"Fine, whatever," Kyle grumbled, handing over the information.
Sherlock saved it into his mobile, then leaned forward a little. "You're a Lycan. What pack?"
"Bloody hell," Kyle growled at Sherlock. "Barker."
Despite everything, John managed a laugh. Sherlock sent him a sharp look. "What?" John snickered. "That joke had to be said sooner or later."
Sherlock turned back to Kyle. "I am not in the mood for jokes, right now. WHAT PACK?"
"Parker," Kyle said. "It's Parker, but yes, we do joke about it a lot. Thought you might enjoy it."
Sherlock narrowed his eyes at the young Lycan before walking out with John following. "Barker," Sherlock muttered under breath.
"Tough crowd," Kyle said, looking at Lestrade. "Can I leave now?"
Lestrade stepped aside to let Kyle out before hurrying after Sherlock & John. "Get in the back of my cruiser. I'll take you to the office." The drive took them to a building just outside London's city center. Lestrade parked on the side of the road & Sherlock attempted to get out. "Sherlock, wait!"
"Why? The one who burned the hotel could be in there."
"Yes & the one who wants you & Sherrinford destroyed could also be in there."
"I'll go first," John got out. "Stay behind me."
Lestrade stayed by John's side while Sherlock followed behind. They entered the building to find it not only empty, but gutted. John & Lestrade stood side by side as Sherlock worked on his mobile behind them. "Something's not right," John looked around.
"Over there," Lestrade pointed to a pile of black & dark gray nearly-black powder. He picked some up with his fingers. "Sherlock, can you tell the difference between regular ash & vampire ash?"
Sherlock slowly came over, still focused on his mobile. "Vampire ash is a mix of fine powder, something like that of human ash would be, but much darker gray with black & large black flakes, as if a cremation didn't fully burn the body."
"This is vampire ash, isn't it?" Lestrade stood up. "Someone got destroyed here."
"Yes, it is," Sherlock pulled his fingertips through the pile, finding large flakes of ash mixed in. "We should take some of this to the lab. Might be able to find a DNA sample to tell us who this was."
"What's this?" John picked up a small gold bullet lying near the pile.
Sherlock took it & held it up. "Looks like most bullets, apart from the colour. This can't kill vampires. Lycans perhaps, but not vampires." He gave it back to John. "Sherrinford can't find anything about the girlfriend on that flight & there is no such thing as a Parker wolf pack."
"Wait a minute," John began. "That's suddenly two unknown wolf packs inside a month. How can two packs just slip under the Undead Law's nose?"
Sherlock lowered his mobile. "That's highly unlikely. I think we are dealing with a single pack that is not telling us their true name."
"It's that Garcia pack," John said. "I'm sure of it."
"Garcia is far more than eight & all are fully active Lycans," Sherlock said.
"Maybe they're just telling us that to throw us off," Lestrade said.
"That is possible," Sherlock agreed. "But makes no sense. I have asked Sherrinford to look into finding the Garcia pack. Their last known sighting was in France."
"Well, let's get to the hospital & check this DNA out," John pocketed a vial of ash. Looking up he noticed a red dot on Sherlock's chest. "Sherlock?" He pointed at it.
Sherlock looked down at the target light. "I'm a vampire. Everyone knows that. Shoot me all you like. It won't work."
John & Lestrade both threw themselves on the floor as a loud bang from the gun went off. Next moment, Sherlock screamed as he was hit square in the chest with the bullet. Looking up at him, Lestrade & John both knew something had gone horribly wrong.
"SHERLOCK!" John called out to him.
Sherlock dropped his mobile to the floor. Both wings came out, ripping through his coat & spun forward, pointing all thirty tips towards the wolf & the human lying just out of reach. His eyes went red, but not the usual crimson. It was as if they had flames in them, dilating the pupils like a dragon's eye. He fell onto his back, clutching the wound.
"Quite the fix you've gotten yourself into, this time," Mycroft crouched down beside him.
Sherlock was lying back on a mix of white & fire. "I think I will be joining you, soon, brother dear."
"You're not destroyed, yet," said Mycroft. "Whatever that is, it isn't in your heart."
The pain of that thing felt like his turning & fake suicide combined. "Ohh! God!" Sherlock gasped through the agony. He tried hiding in the Mind Palace but all it showed him was pain & his destroyed brother. "I wish I was on the sinking Titanic, right now," Sherlock panting in short breaths. "I could use that cool water."
"Well, Titanic's long gone," Mycroft said. "You need to get rid of that human before you lose all control." A short pause as Sherlock fought off another wave of pain. "You WILL lose control. You'll crave the blood. Crave it & need it. Very soon! Get Greg out. NOW! Sherlock. Sherlock!"
Sherlock came back to reality. It had been John & Lestrade calling his name. "Get out!" Sherlock snarled through gritted fangs at Lestrade. "Get out. I'll kill you. Get out while you can."
"Sherlock?" John was nearby him, leaning over & digging out whatever had shot him. He pulled it out just as the wound closed over. Sherlock had healed but at the same time, he seemed to be in a worse state than before. "What's wrong?"
"Hide anyone human," Sherlock arched his back, wings spread out & shuddering. "Run. Now! I can't hold it off much longer."
(AN: Yeah, yeah, it's based on Smaug's eyes. Shut up.)