A/N: Hi again, wow I feel crappy. My first flamer told me to go to the mall…give up on writing and buy something. That makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside! Augh. Well here's chapter two.
"Please! No!" She shrieked. Her golden brown eyes were wide with terror. She backed desperately away from the man standing above her. The man towered over her slender body. "Get away from me!" tears ruined her perfectly done make up.
"Now, now…" He said in a soothing voice. "Don't cry, it'll all be alright soon…." His long pale fingers tightened around the handle of the axe he carried.
"I'll give you money! Power, women!" She shrieked. "Anything you want just please let me go!" Her lips were stained a bright red. Those blood-red lips parted in a perfect circle. She backed into the stone wall and curled into a little ball, trembling. "No! Somebody help me!"
He raised the axe over his head and swung it down with all his might.
Minutes later he wiped her blood off his hands with a white handkerchief and tossed it down in disgust on the pathetic body of the fallen woman. He turned on his heel and walked away from the blood stained wall, boots clicking as they hit the stone street.
"Hey, Remus, have you read the paper today?" James asked casually from his chair. Remus looked over at his friend and lawyer. Remus was thumbing through books in James' office.
It was a medium sized office, with a large window at the back of the room that overlooked the street and allowed sunlight to stream in. James' desk was in the center of the room, in front of the window. There were several books shelves, all properly outfitted with books of law, and a few of James' craftily hidden fiction books. "You know I don't read that rubbish anymore." Remus scoffed. "They only print the most outrageous falsehoods in that paper."
"Not this one Remus!" James urged. Remus rolled his eyes and sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the desk. "Read." He shoved the paper into Remus' hands. Remus obeyed. "No, no, no, Read it out loud!" James insisted. "It'll be good practice."
Remus sighed and shot James a glare before reading. "Honestly, James. It's like dealing with a fussy child with you!" He took a deep breath and started to read. "Early this morning, police discovered the body of Mrs. Elizabeth James. Her body was found in an alley near the docks. It would appear she was hacked to death with an axe. Any persons who chop wood or work with axes should come to the police station immediately to aid in the identification of her wounds. She was the wife of the wealthy lawyer Marcus James. If any person witnessed this ghastly crime or can aid in the investigation of her murder should come to the police station immediately."
"Well!" James asked.
Remus tossed the paper down on the desk. "Complete rubbish, why I saw Mrs. James just the other night after I was speaking to you. She was outside, and looking very much alive thank you very much. "
"Are you implying something, my young friend?" James smirked.
"I shouldn't be gossiping, but yes I am insinuating something." Remus said seriously, but his eyes laughed.
"Hm…Was she being lively with a man by the name of Donavan Lee?" James chuckled.
"Very lively indeed." Remus rolled his eyes.
"You look like a child when you roll your eyes like that." James commented, he opened several draws and drew out a few thick stacks of paper.
"It's a special look that I save just for you James." Remus said in a sickeningly sweet voice. James couldn't help but smile, hearing Remus sound like one of his street friends always made him laugh. "What?" Remus inquired.
"Nothing. It's just odd to hear you sound like a street boy. You look like such a gentleman."
"I look like a dandy." Remus scoffed. He was dressed in white shirt with a elegant gathering of lace at his throat, that wasn't fashionable at the time, but Remus still adored the look. His fawn brown frock coat was double breasted and unbuttoned at the top to show off his lace. His pants were plain black and his feet were comfortable in brown boots that added an extra two inches to his unimpressive height.
"You're the one who insists on the lace."
"It's mysterious!" Remus argued.
James laughed again as he straightened stacks of paper. "My, you are testy today, any ailment in particular?"
Remus sighed and rested his face in his hand. "All this paper work!" He gestured to the growing piles on the table. "I don't want to deal with all this house work. If I had it my way I'd sell all the bloody houses save for the city one!"
"Oh Remy don't say that." James admonished the blonde. "Something else is bothering you."
Remus fidgeted in the chair, his mind drifting back to the mysterious stranger, Sirius. Those blue eyes…He'd never seen such startling blue eyes, nor his black hair. Now that he thought about it Sirius looked a lot cleaner then most commoners. Is hair had been silky looking, even in the dark. "Last night…I lost my way home, and I wondered down to the docks.
" It was purely accidental, but then I ran into this odd man. He called himself Sirius. He led me back to the gardens and then I asked him if there was something I could do to return the favor, and he said he'd be seeing me again and that I could repay the favor then." Remus called his home the gardens, which was the common street nickname for his neighborhood.
James frowned. "You should stay away from the docks…strange characters live there." He said vaguely. "Now your father left you…."
Remus ignored the rest of what James said, his mind drifted back to Sirius. Something about that….thief fascinated him. "James do you know anyone named Sirius?"
"Remus, drop it." James growled, also using the street language.
"Forgive me, James." Remus shook his head. "My mind is wondering, my friend I trust you wiht my life. And I trust you to handle my father's possessions accordingly. You know what to do with all of them better then I do."
"Go home and get some rest Remus." James said kindly. "You look tired."
"Bless you!" Remus said dramatically. He grabbed his top hat off the table and walked out with a swagger in his stride. He glanced over his should and tipped his hat to James. "Good day, my fine gentleman!"
James shook his head. He has no right to be so debonair...damn him. James thought as he went back to paper work.
Outside Remus soaked up the sunlight like a plant, he immediately brightened, smiling and tipping that silk top hat to everyone. He enjoyed being with a bustling crowd, it made him feel secure. He caught sight of a small figure, in a bright bronze silk dress, commanding her way through the crowd. Her long fiery red hair was pinned up beneath a fashionable bonnet.
Remus trotted a little to catch up to her. "My lady, going somewhere?" He asked politely offering an arm. His tone was polite, but his eyes sparkled. Lily was the most lenient of the 'elite' class ad she loved to mingle with the common people.
"Yes in fact I was going to visit you." Lily smirked.
"Of course my lady." He drew her away from the crowds just in time to hide her burst of laughter. "Lil, my love you can't just go laughing where ever you see fit, it isn't lady like."
"Honestly Remus!" Lily laughed. "You'd make a better lady then I do!"
"Well can I help being so wonderfully charming?" Remus chuckled.
"Yes!" Lily scolded. "Remus what is this fetish you have for lace? You look like a dandy!"
"But do I not look like a charming, wonderfully handsome dandy?" Remus pouted playfully. Lily was twenty, two years older then Remus and often she acted like a child.
"No, you look like a very, charming, pretty dandy." Lily sniggered.
"I am not pretty!" Remus argued.
"Remy you are the prettiest man in the gardens!" the red head giggled. "Now hush, walk me to your house like a proper gentleman."
"Alright then, I shall make proper gentlemanly conversation." Remus agreed. Suddenly he saw a figure standing in the shadows smirking wickedly at him. Blue eyes…that grin! Sirius! " Lily, my dear sweet lily, would you be kind enough to wait here a moment." He said distracted by the dark figure.
"Remus?" She asked worriedly, but never the less she backed closer to the garden fence and smiled politely at everyone who passed, all the while nervously watching Remus cross the bustling street and slip into an alley.
Remus walked into the alley and glanced back at Lily. She's nervous…She's such a sweet heart. He smiled briefly before continuing into the alley. "Sirius?" He called softly.
"Ah….Remus." The dark haired man said, in the same honey sweet condescending tone. "It's wonderful to see you again."
Remus glared at the man. "Sir I don't appreciate being toyed with. Tell me what you want."
"Very forward of you, Remus." Sirius snickered. "I like it."
Remus smiled politely. "I also do not appreciate being called by m given name by a man I hardly know."
"Alright then, Remus, I'd like to talk business with you."
Remus shook his head. "I have no business with you."
"I disagree." Sirius' voice took on a rough edge. "Why don't we go to your home, we can talk there."
Remus eyed the man distastefully before nodding stiffly. He noticed Sirius was dressed the same as he was, in black pants and a frock coat. Only his coat was dark blue, edged with black velvet. The black pants did not taper gradually to the ankle; instead they flared out around the same steel toed boots. "You look….Cultured,"
"I'm very cultured my dear Remus, if you would only give me a chance." Sirius said, his voice immediately became more prim and proper.
Remus glared at him. The lengths I go to for my blood reputation. He walked briskly back to Lily, she was glancing around, obviously nervous. Her pretty face bloomed into a smile when she saw him. "Remus! Where were you?" She asked.
"I'll explain later, my lady. May I introduce you to a friend, Mr. Sirius…" Remus trailed off, glancing over at Sirius.
"Black. Sirius Black at your service, madam." Sirius said smoothly with a bow, his kissed Lily's hand tenderly.
Remus was taken completely aback at this odd display of charm and culture from scum like Black. But Lily was completely taken with him after that. Remus shook his head and followed the duo. Somehow I get the feeling there's something about Black I don't want to know…