Chapter 3

I have joined the dark side. Jim managed to tell me the truth, the whole truth. My whole family lied to me. I have a brother named Sherrinford. He's a master assassin who worked for Jim once. He did his job and was never seen again. Even Jim never found him. It was like he vanished from the face of the Earth. I couldn't believe that my family hid something as important away from me. I felt betrayed. Jim promised he would never lie to me, ever. I wasn't so sure, but I believed him anyway.

Jim was a consulting criminal, the only one in the world. Evil people go to him for help. In my opinion, I like his job. His thinking skills are beyond remarkable, and he never got his hands dirty, figuratively speaking. And one day, he popped the question that would leave me to the biggest choice of my life.

"Hey, Sherry." He said when I entered the dining room. I was allowed to go out of my room, since I gained his trust when we first went out. It felt like weeks ago.

"Hey, Jim." I greeted him, grabbing a red apple. I bit into it. Yum.

"So, I was thinking, with my mastermind skills and your decisive and genius brain, we could become a team?"

"A team?" I repeated. Is he asking what I think he's asking?

"Yeah, I mean, we'd be partners in crime. You and me. Fighting off all the good guys. Beating everyone in their own game."

I mulled it over. His offer was tempting me. "And what if I don't?"

He smiled. "I'll kill you."

I laughed. "I value my life. And you're not giving me a choice anyway...so..."

He raised an eyebrow. "So...?"

"Yes! I'd love to!" I yelled.

He laughed. It was a genuine chuckle. I was surprised that he was so...happy about it. "We'll start tomorrow, yeah?" I nodded. We ate breakfast together. We were discussing my 'job requirements' which included me risking my life, and trusting him completely. I told him that it was no big problem for me, as I already trusted him.

I came down the stairs feeling a little giddy. Jim said that I will be helping him out in his 'consulting'. Someone rang the doorbell. I opened the door to find a lovely young woman, probably in her late twenties. Blonde, big blue eyes. A husband problem. She was dressed plainly, but her eyes were dark, evil lurking behind her saintly appearance. Jim appeared behind me, determined not to be seen by our visitor. "Jim Moriarty?"

"Yeah, this is his house. How can I help you?" I asked her. I laughed inwardly at my politeness. I've always been known as loud, sarcastic and I've always spoken what was on my mind, insensitive to others.

"I need to consult with him." She answered coldly. Oh that's how you want to play it.

"You have a husband problem. He's shagging your sister and you caught them in the act. Don't worry, he's going to kill you tonight, before you could stop him. I suggest you leave town immediately if you value your life." I said, biting my lip to keep from laughing. Jim was silently sniggering behind me. The blond woman huffed and left.

Jim burst into laughter. I, too, joined in. "Did you see her face? She was like," Jim mocked her haughty expression. I laughed at his comical version of her.

"Gosh, where have you been all my life?" He asked. "Tell me if there's an interesting person. I'll be in my study, working." He sniggered again and left. I sat by the phone. Jim had told me that clients either came in person, or they would phone the house. The phone rang, interrupting me from my daydreaming.

"Hello, Moriarty residence." Once again, I tried not to laugh.

"I need help. I want to kidnap my daughter from my abusive husband. He-" A woman said, but I interrupted her.

"Booooring!" I said and hung up. Fifteen calls and seven visitors later, the doorbell rang.

I opened the door. A man, blond-haired, strong jaw was at the doorstep. He was probably a sniper, judging by the bag he had slung on his shoulder. He was ex-army, a Colonel maybe. He was wearing a plain, v-neck t-shirt with blue denim jeans. He was quite handsome too, but certainly not my type. Beneath all that muscles lay a softer side to him. He was gay. "Is this Jim Moriarty's house?"

"Yeah, as a matter of fact this is." I said. I let him in, intrigued, as I can't find out why he's here. "So, what's your name?" I asked.

"Sebastian Moran." I noticed that he doesn't flaunt his authority around me, meaning that he has low tolerance for females. Whatever.

"Hm." I called for Jim. He needs to hear Mr. Moran's story too. He seems interesting.

"Sherry, who's caught your eye now?" Jim called out from the top of the stairs. He locked eyes with Moran and he smirked. "Who might you be?" He asked in a different tone. Low and almost seductive. Brr...

"Colonel Sebastian Moran, sir." I shot daggers at him. I deserve to be respected too! "So, you must be the ever famous James Moriarty." Moran remarked. Jim and Moran shook hands.

"Indeed I am. And this is my lovely assistant, Sherrelyn." Jim said, nodding at me.

"We've met." Moran answered flatly.

"To what do I owe the pleasure of meeting you?" Jim asked. I rolled my eyes. I can feel the sexual tension between the two. I swear that they both might have it right here if one breaks.

"I am on for hire. A sniper. Best you ever got." Moran explained. "Ex-army. I want to kill a certain someone. He once wronged me, and he has humiliated my name."

"And who is this target, might I ask?" Jim asked politely. Urgh, it sickens me to see Jim so polite. It's unlike him to treat people so nicely.

"He is, as they say, they British government." Moran explained. No. No, not him, please not him. "Mycroft Holmes." I looked at Jim in dismay.

"Absolutely not!" I cried out, unable to control myself. Moran eyed me suspiciously.

"Excuse me?"

"You are not assassinating Mycroft Holmes!"

"And why not?" I looked at Jim for an answer. He just shrugged.

"If you assassinate him," I said it out slowly. "We won't have anyone to play around with." I smirked. Jim smiled at me. He liked my excuse. "And you should know, that Jim Moriarty loves to play with the government."

Jim laughed. Moran was fuming. "You..."

"Look, as much as Jim wants fun and all, we wouldn't get to play with the government. I mean, who would be there to see us beat them in their little game?" I started rambling on.

"You watch out, Miss Sherrelyn." He warned me. "You'll be sorry if you reject me."

"Who ever said we were rejecting you?" Jim said quickly. I looked at him with a quizzical expression. Moran looked confused. "We will bring down the British government. But not Mycroft Holmes." Jim added.

"Where's the fun in that?" Moran said, exasperated.

"Trust me. We'll plan the greatest crime. They'll be baffled by our brilliance. And tell me, Mr Moran, are you good with bombs?" Moran nodded. Oh, this will be fun.

Moran left, leaving me to deal with the phone calls. Someone named Irene Adler left a message, saying that she'll come over for some advice later. Jim received threats from a man named Magnussen. He said something about pressure points. "Sherry?" Jim tapped my shoulder.

"Mm?" I looked up from my nook. Receiving phone calls can be extremely boring, as they all have ordinary requests.

"Do you want to plan a great game?"

"I love games! Sure, but on who?"

"The world's only consulting detective." Funny, how he never told me the name of this consulting detective. Until it was too late. I agreed, because I thought that it'll be fun, toying around with Jim's arch nemesis, as he calls him. Gosh I was stupid.

We planned it out. First, we'd send in a little pink problem. And then bombs! Honestly, I have no idea how someone could take this time to plan out a brilliant master plan, and yet be four steps in front of the victim. I admire Jim's planning skills. He's good with the calculative decisions. He told me that I was the one that had to survey the whole plan, make sure it goes perfectly. Moran called up all the criminals that he knew, to enact our plans. All we had to do, was wait.