Some of the dialogue will be recognizable and at this point thinks start to swerve away from the original story…..Oh and I just realized I never put a disclaimer but let's be real here? I'm not the owner so yeahhh! There may be a few errors i was so psyched to get this out!
-‡-Prince of Hell-‡-
Chapter Four
"Bit different from my day." John murmured as he limped through the crowd of well-dressed socialites. A small symphony played on a dais in the front of the ballroom.
"You have no idea." Mike snorted as they approached the tall lanky man who was clutching his flute of champagne as if it was a life vest and he was in stormy sea water, and in a sense John thought that might be true.
"May I borrow your phone?' The man asked imminently.
John stepped back, not expecting the tall man to be so forward. Mike smiled and shrugged as he patted himself down. "I left the thing at home."
John remembered the phone Athena had slipped in his breast pocket before they had left the gala. He pulled it out, and handed it to the strange man. "Here use mine."
The tall man nodded thanks and quickly opened the keyboard before his fingers flew over the device. "Afghanistan or Iraq?" He promptly handed it back with a smug grin.
John looked over at Mike with query; the daemon folded his arms and grinned widely. "Sorry. What was that?"
The stranger looked down at his glass and then around the room. "Which one was it? Afghanistan or Iraq?"
John racked his brain for the location Athena had told him he was supposed to have served in. "Afghanistan. How did you know that?"
Smugly taking a sip from his drink, the man's gray-green eyes flickered around the sparkly guest's, barely resting on anyone for longer than a few moments. John had the distinct impression everything this man did was done smugly. A plain looking woman with bright red lipstick in a short white cocktail dress fought her way towards the corner. Her mousy brown hair held the hit of once being beautifully styled but had become lopsided and messy. She held another glass of champagne and a plate of assorted appetizers. She delicately walked over to the man and offered him the glass; he nodded and gave her his empty one.
"Ah Molly, the lipstick is a huge improvement, now your lips aren't too small."
Her right eye twitched but she remained smiling kindly at the tall man. Standing loyally at his side as a dog would with its master. The action made John think of his blood bond mates, although he doubted a human could have managed such a feat, she must have been completely infatuated with him. Oh the crimes other have committed for their 'soul mates,' most of the where sentenced to his realm. It was sad that even in hell they still believed they hadn't been used and then thrown away.
"How do you feel about the violin? I play the violin when I'm thinking and sometimes I don't talk for days on end." The man stated suddenly, surprising John.
His eyebrows crinkled in confusion. Why in the world would he care if the strange man plays the violin or doesn't talk? "What?"
The tall man continued on as if John hadn't interrupted him. "Does that bother you? Potential flatmates should know the worst about each other?"
John glanced at Mike who was complacently looking down at his designer shoes. The Prince was lost for words, unsure what had just happened. He had been lead to believe he was just being introduced to this tall man who by Mike's word was the 'cream of the crop of humans' and now this odd man was asking about flatmates. John shifted his stance, leaning heavier on his cane. It wasn't often anyone caught him off guard.
"Who said anything about being flatmates?" John questioned.
"I did." The man stated abruptly.
"I told Mike this morning I must be a difficult person to find a flat mate for and here he is with an old friend clearly just home from military service in Afghanistan. It wasn't a difficult leap."
John opened his mouth and then closed it. He was beyond confused and stunned at this point. Where was this man getting all his information? It was half true, he had just come back from the war, in Hell, but he wasn't looking for a place to stay. John assumed he'd be staying with Athena since he had been the one to endorse her trip to the world Above, but the way she had kissed his cheek and bid him goodbye he wondered if she had planned something clever. Not to mention he still hadn't met this Holmes.
John glanced at Mike and in his vision the daemon rose from the portly human shell and waved his hand in a circle as if to say play along. John knew that humans never fared well after they learned about the different planes co-existing in their reality. Most went insane. John licked his lips and looked down, playing the part of a man thinking hard, it wasn't that hard, his mind was buzzing.
"How….how did you know about Afghanistan?" And that question did boggle him.
The lankly gentleman suddenly shoved his glass at Molly, and patted down his jacket before pulling out his own cell phone and clicking through it. "I have to dash. Let's meet up tomorrow at seven."
Not ready for this intriguing man to leave him company just yet, John reached out as the man passed and pulled on his elbow. "Is that it? We've only just met and we're going to look at a flat?"
The man looked down at Johns hand before he let go, before dusting invisible particles off himself. "Problem?"
If it wouldn't be considered rude and improper, John would have slammed his head against the wall in frustration. Of course it was a problem. He was a Prince of Hell and this was an ordinary human, the crazed man didn't even have the sense to feel the least bit intimidated or scared of him. John was partly worried for his mental health. Why didn't this odd man want to avoid him?
John thought it best to warn him. "We don't know a thing about each other. I don't know where we're meeting. I don't even know your name."
John expected the man to pause, to at least think about it for a second. But instead the man narrowed his eyes and took a step forward, as if proving he wasn't scared.
"I know you're an army doctor and you've been invalidated home from Afghanistan. I know you've got a brother who's worried about you but you won't go to him, possibly because he's an alcoholic, or more recently because he walked out on his wife. And I know your therapist thinks you're limp is psychosomatic, quite correctly; I'm afraid. That's enough to be going on, don't you think?"
He wanted to burst into laughter, to bring this smug man down to size. It wasn't often John felt infringed upon but this human was different and he liked that. Unwilling to smash this man's correct deductions of his false life, John sighed, letting his shoulders sag as if in defeat. It was amazing he had figured all that information out in just a few short moments, neither Molly nor Mike seemed at all surprised so John guessed this was a frequent occurrence. The man nodded curtly and sauntered off towards the opposite end of the glittery room filled lightly with music, his sharp eyes trained on a tall man with silver hair in a black suit.
John turned towards Mike his jaw falling open a millimeter. After seeing the man leave Mary approached the two, nodding graciously at Molly. "Who was that?"
"That was Mr. Holmes." Molly grinned.
"He looks cynical, poor soul." Mary said which was amusing in its own right since she judged damned souls on a day basis.
"Cynical he may be but boring he most certainly is not." Molly said with a sly grin, walking back into the fluttery crowd.
John and Mary looked at each other shocked, that was Holmes? A smile spread across John's face. The Prince turned to the awaiting daemon. "Did you mention me?"
"Not a word." At John's raised eyebrow the daemon held out his hands, wrists up in the universal underworld sign of submission. "He's always like that."
John nodded thoughtfully and tapped his forefinger against Mike's wrists, a gesture of release and no-harm-done. The daemon bowed his head and crossed a hand over his chest in a mock royal recognition. John grimaced but nodded back in proper response. The daemon of Sloth licked his lips and turned around wedging his way back into the crowd. Mary stood by John's side, both waiting for the daemon to move out of hearing distance, which was a distance.
"That was Holmes?" Mary asked with bated breath, unsure about this man.
John swallowed as his blue eyes slid along the invited humans, searching for any more daemons he should be aware of, especially any of Lust, Vainglory or Greed. His shoulders relaxed slightly. Besides Mike and a red headed daemon of Pride on some Real Estate mogul's arm, there were no other daemons John could detect. The pretty daemon felt his gaze and turned her large brown eyes in his direction, upon seeing her sovereign she nodded in his direction, about to let go of her date and approach him. She stilled as John shook his head. That would cause a fuss and draw more attention to him. She inclined her head and promptly turned her attention back to her date.
"Please follow me." A familiar voice interrupted.
Athena appeared out of the crowd, two burly men at her side. John preened on the inside that she didn't need guards to take care of her; he'd trained her to fight with the best of them. Figuring he was still supposed to play the role of John Watson: human army doctor he frowned in confusion.
"To where?"
Athena smiled indulgently as if talking to a demanding child. "Someone wishes for your company Mr. Watson."
Taking a deep breath and tightly gripping his cane, to diminutively appear ruffled, John offered his right arm to Mary and walked forward. Mary beamed as if walking with him was her greatest pleasure. The two followed behind Athena and into the crowd. The guests all parting consciously for the women, and the two guards who followed behind. John was slightly impressed at the power this unknown person had. Obviously Athena worked with the nameless powerhouse. Athena led them in the direction Sherlock had gone and up a small staircase to an opera box above the large decorated ballroom. A lean man in a smart gray suit leaned against the railing overlooking the guests. John wondered why he hadn't noticed the man nor the box before but waved it away. In the large box where two leather couches. Athena walked to one and gracefully sat down, typing away at her Blackberry and pretending that Mary and John didn't even exist much less matter.
"Have a seat, John" The man said in a smooth voice not bothering to turn around from his emperor pose above the mass of laughing and chattering guests.
John moved to the couches and let Mary sit across from Athena as he stood by her side. "And you are?"
"A friend." The man purred as the turned around, leaning back on his elbows and crossing his leg in front of him. He had a lean face that seemed expressionless and dull but through his gray-green eyes sparkled with mischief. He looked to be in his mid-forties, so around John's human bodies age.
John pursed his lips at the man. He didn't have friends. It wasn't in a daemons nature to have friends. The idea struck him as absurd but itched none the less in the back of his mind. His second day in the realm of the humans and already he was intrigued with two separate men.
"Why?"
"Do you have trust issues?" The new stranger asked with a pleasant smile as if that was the most wonderful thing in the world. The smile made John feel queasy.
John cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. "That's none of your business."
"Most people blunder around this city and all they see are streets and shops and cars. But when you walk it's a battlefield. You should fire your therapist, you're not haunted by the war you miss it." The man purred with a sultry smile. "Welcome back to London Dr. Watson. Please enjoy the compliments of my box."
The man gave John a smoldering look, sharply turned heel and walked out of the box followed by the two brawny guards. Athena stayed behind still typing away on her phone. The three Hellions listening for the man's retreating footsteps. As they disappeared into the noise of the party. Two pairs of eyes turned to stare at Athena with inquiring.
"That was Mr. Holmes." She simply stated. "I think he liked you."
"Good Gods." John cursed. "There are two of them."
Thanks for reading!
Oh my Gods 6 reviews for one chapter….I'm so excited here's Ch 4….I feel it's evil to ask but 4 reviews! I hope not but it makes me ridiculously happy since it is my favorite number!
Serpentrose- I'm utterly thrilled you've reviewed every chapter so Gold star's! I guess your dance is working! XDI hope you liked the brothers and you weren't held up with too much excitement!
valkyrie-23- *blush* If you keep saying you adore this my head my swell of happiness!
Angel of Love and Fluffy Stuff- I felt happy just reading your username! Thanks for reviewing! And I'm pleased as peach you think it's such an interesting world! I had read many stories where Sherlock is the demon and John the human so I thought to take a spin to it! Hope the short wait was worth it!
LittleMissDreamer7- Is seven your favorite number? My twin sister's is! I've never had my story called BRILLIANT before you paint a blush upon me! I hope a day is soon enough! Reviews make me uber happy! And it's even an even number!
Yuki- Oh my first and frequent reviewer! I'm glad I could make your night! I read fanfics to go to sleep or if I had a crap day! Your wish is my command and here's the next chapter!
Angeluz66- Cute! I assume its angel loves 66 ((demonic number for a demonic story XD )) but I could be wrong *shrug* Yeah it's interesting...that's all I can ever ask for so enjoy!
I normally don't do this but OMG I saw this and it kinda inspired this chapter so http:/youtube .com/ watch?v=sXFg4IO6-VA here it is!