"You look beautiful." Mary said, and I felt she was sincere and a bit jealous. I smiled some, though still hating the fact I had to wear a god forsaken dress. Ugh.
"Don't worry. Watson will be all over you, no need to feel for me." She smiled some, shaking her head.
"Watson was correct when he stated your power tended to get annoying." I shrugged, smiling. "But thank you." Her unease fluttered away.
"Mary! Lara! Are you two ready?" Watson called, making Mary smile like a school girl.
" We shall be down momentarily." She put her mask on and fleeted on down the stairs, leaving me to the room, looking at the mirror in annoyance. I didn't have to wear that basket thing to make your ass puff out, thank god, but I did have to wear a cores-set, so breathing was always a pleasure. The only thing I liked is what Mary did with my hair. It was left down, except for the small braids on both sides of my head, both around my head like a halo, coming together in the back and going down the middle of my hair. It was pretty cool if I do say so myself... Which I do.
I put my mask on and left the room, going down the stairs. Once I felt my skin sizzle, I looked over to find Holmes watching me intently, his eyes watching me go down the stairs. I looked down, his gaze burning into my soul when our eyes met for half a second. Once down I walked in front of him, awing at his costume.
The colors he bore were Black and Gold, making him look like a villain of sorts. He wore black dress shoes, black dress pants with heavy gold designs on them. His jacket was really fucking cool. Their were patches embroidered with heavy gold glitter lining his sides, almost meeting the other end. He wore a long cape that almost reached the floor, random gold glitter designs on it. His mask was really what made it all fit. The top left side came up in spikes, whilst the right side was just plain. It was black, with gold lines around the eyes and trailing up the spiked end. The lines ran down the nose and settled on the bottom, like waves of gold. He had shaved, so the bottom of his tan face was clean, and his black hair was combed back, making him look like a real gentleman.
Weird.
"You look very feminine for once." He quipped, breaking the silence. I smirked when I saw him look me up and down, swallowing.
"Not to bad yourself handsome." He smirked his own smirk, eying me.
"If you two are done." Watson said, linking his arm with Mary's and exiting the house. Holmes looked down at me and bowed slightly, holding his arm out.
"Milady." I blushed slightly, wrapping my arm around his. he stood at his full and we walked out, going into the carriage that was to bring us to the ball. It was awkward to say the least. Mary and Watson talked, flirted, and clung to each other in a way. Holmes and I, well, we sat as far away as we could, looking out of our respective windows. "So." Holmes said, and I looked over, unsure as to why he wanted to break our neutral awkward silence. "What sort of dances did they have in your time?" Holmes asked, making smirk at how his curiosity never seemed sated.
"Well, we have a bunch of different kinds. Raves, modern, hip-hop, folk, tap, swing, ballet, country, belly, Latin. Plus a shit ton more." I shrugged some. "Stuff like that." Once there, Watson and Mary exited first, then Holmes who helped me out by holding onto my hand for support. He kept his elbow out and I wrapped my arm around it, noting at how his posture was remarkably straight, a small smile on his face. As we walked into the grand ball room, we were seated at a table. Since Holmes was in disguise as a gentleman, I might as well act like a lady. I've read these books long enough to know how to act. For tonight at least. I had my legs crossed, my hands in my lap as I kept my back straight, a dainty smile upon my face. Mary left to go use the restroom once the waiter brought us our drinks. Perks of being in this time? Alcohol anytime baby. I sipped my red wine, savoring in it as Holmes and Watson leaned toward each other whispering.
"I don't see him." Watson said, scanning the place.
"He's here." Holmes and I said at the same time, only to have them both stare at me. "I feel a presence more demanding then the others. Dark, lurking." I turned to show them a man sitting at a table with three other Lords. He was slouched back with his legs crossed, scanning the dance floor. "It's making me want to throw up actually." I muttered, taking another sip of wine.
"How do you do that?" Watson said with a smirk as he sat back. I thought about it. I'm not sure why now, but I analyzed how I could do it.
"I don't know…" I muttered, looking down, not able to come up with a logical answer. I glanced at Holmes when my skin began to burn, seeing him watching me with intent. It infuriated me I could not read him, and even more so when he hid his emotions so well behind a wall of logic. He sat up as well, looking to Watson.
"I believe it is time to set our trap." Watson nodded and my heart raced as I looked down at my glass. Damn, how I wish there was pot in this time. Hell, I'd even take some of his 'concoctions' now. Anything to sooth my pulsating nerve endings. Images of what could happen flashed and that didn't make me feel any better. Simultaneously, Watson and Sherlock head's shot to me, eyes glinting behind their masks. "Most engaging…" Holmes muttered, tilting his head at me as I stared at them, confused.
"You seemed to have… Sent out a sort of wave." Watson looked to Holmes expectantly.
"It would appear along with reading emotions, you can send them out." Holmes stood and extended his hand towards me. I looked at him, trying to calm myself. I knew I could make people feel other emotions, but I never realized that when I get carried away, I send out what I'm feeling. "There is no need to fear." I glanced at him, not feeling that persuaded. As I looked into his eyes, everything froze. My entire body went comfortably numb as my skin and insides became a lit with a fire he only seemed to be able to ignite. "Nothing will harm you whilst I am here." I swallowed, taking his hand lightly, just barley remembering we were in disguise. He helped me up as he held onto my hand, taking me out onto the dance floor just as a song began.
"I don't know-"
"Just follow my lead." He said, putting our already clasped hand out, then using his free one around my waist. I tentatively put mine on his shoulder, our bodies now almost touching as the music began to play. It was slow, making me groan on the inside. With his hand on my lower back, he pulled me to him, our bodies touching as our faces were merely inches apart. All I knew was that the steps were easy, but I couldn't focus. I just kept my body to his, jolts going through me. My body tingled as our body's twirled, his eyes never leaving mine. "I'm going to kiss you." That jolted me right out of this fairy fucking tale.
"What?" I asked, brows together. He sighed, rolling his eyes some.
"We have to hook him in. I'm going to lead us over to where he is sitting." I just then noticed we were already almost there. My nerves came right back full force. "Calm down." He nearly hissed, but his faced remained loving. Damn, if he wasn't a detective, he would have been one hell of an actor.
"Sorry. Still a virgin in the sense that I have to seduce a serial rapist!" I hissed, digging my head into the crook of his neck.
"You need to calm down or he'll notice us in the wrong way. Your waves are seeping out again." I inhaled his scent, shaking into his body as we twirled with the crowd. The moment he held me protectively against him, I was at ease. It scared me. I never liked connections ever since my parents died. No boyfriends and disposable friends. "Count to three and try to look convincing." He whispered, hot breath on my ear making me hold back a shiver, as I moved my head from his very warm neck.
One
Our eyes locked and my body burned. He held me tighter, making my stomach churn as heat pooled between my legs.
Two
His brown eyes got a glint in them as he put his forehead against mine, inhaling deeply. Now, more the never I wanted in. His feelings and emotions. His intent and true self. I wanted to know what he was, why he was the way he is.
Three
My body stilled and tensed, feeling his every move. He tilted his head to the side, hot breath fanning across my chilling face. My heart actually hurt from how fast it was going, but once his lips touched mine, everything in me stilled to a grounding halt. I inhaled, closing my eyes tightly, clenching my jaw as I tried to hold back the waves. It was done before it even started, and as I opened my eyes Holmes was glaring at me. "What?" I whispered.
"Your acting abilities lack to say the least." I glared, my anger flaring.
"Sorry that my lack of wanting to kiss you makes you angry." His jaw clenched.
"I was not one for wanting to kiss you either." Controlling anger? Yeah right.
"I'm just a little toy to you. You use me for your investigations, prod me about the future and argue with me about everything!" We stopped once we reached the front, him looking down at me with such intensity I burned under him.
"That's only because arguing with you is far more stimulating then any concoction I could every create." My mouth was slightly agape as I analyzed his statement.
"I'll wait for you outside." I said, unsure of how to deal with the situation he presented to me. "Make sure you and Watson aren't late." I walked away without looking back. Once outside I took my mask off, running a hand over my face.
"Hey there." I was able to turn around just in time to be hit in the head.
*Sherlock's POV*
I ran out with Watson, looking around with my pistol in my hand. "Holmes!" I looked to find her shoe near the corner of the ally. My eyes went wide as panic swam through me. I ran past Watson and skidded into the ally, freezing at the site before me. I noted the dead body and the one hunched on top of a trashcan. "Lara?" Watson hobbled up to her as she lifted her head. I sighed, happy she was safe for some reason. I walked over and knelt down next to the dead body that lay on the ground. "Lara, what happened?" Watson asked, and I glanced up, opening the mans jacket to find blood. Her face was pale as her as were void of the emotion I learned to read like a book. My body burned for revenge on a dead man, when I saw her dress was torn in the front, her holding it together with her hand.
And then, the statement that I knew would haunt my core for as long as I could breath, came from her frowning lips.
"You were late."