Chapter 20: The Invitation

It wasn't until another two weeks later that they got any news on their case regarding the Father. Lestrade, Mycroft, Sherlock and John were gathered in Lestrade's office now discussing their next move when there was a knock on the office door.

"Come in," Sherlock said looking to the door expectantly now.

The door opened and into the room walked Irene and her partner Kate. Lestrade immediately stood in an attack stance something to which Sherlock waved a hand to tell him to stand down.

"It's alright. She's with us Lestrade. She's on our side," Sherlock said with a confident voice.

"The lost sheep returns," Mycroft muttered as he moved off into the recesses of Lestrade's office now, uninterested.

John looked to the two female vampires now and asked, "Why are you here?"

"Why else will I be here if not to help you out Sherlock," Irene said, dragging out his name on purpose.

"Help me with what? You said you could offer no more help than to tell me he was at Stowerling," Sherlock said.

"Well we just got more news," Kate growled at him, protective of her mistress now.

"Stowerling Keep is to hold a masquerade ball in two days time," Irene said holding out the invitation card to Sherlock.

"How did you get this?" Sherlock asked as he looked at the card, the parchment paper still crisp and clean, printed only with the details of the venue and a single golden mask as the heading.

"Invites have been sent to all the vampire covens in the region those who are under his rule and maybe more. No one knows from whom but my best guess is that it's from the Father," Irene said.

"What if it's a trap?" John asked as he looked at the card, peering over Sherlock's shoulder.

"It would be our only way to find out anything about the Father," Sherlock said, "we'd have to go."

"John's right you'd be walking right in to the Father's trap," Lestrade said as he was handed the card now. The address said Stowerling Keep and there was no indication of anything else, no identification of the host, nothing more than the venue of the event.

"That's why I'm going on my own," Sherlock said.

"No!" John burst out, shocking them all, he lowered his voice now, "No…I'm going with you. Remember it was our deal that I help you find the person who put you in the ice."

"The place will be overrun by vampire's John, hundreds upon thousands of them! Who knows how many covens the Father has invited," Irene said.

"I'm a vampire hunter am I not?" John said, "I can stand my own ground."

"John, we're not talking thirty or forty vampires. If the Father knows I'm after him and he's out to get me you can bet this won't be safe at all," Sherlock said as he looked to John now. "What's more if he knows I've got you, a human with me it'll be even worse."

"As long as you go Sherlock, I'm going with you," John said, putting his foot down on the matter. He was too far-gone with this man, this vampire, to leave his side now.

"Alright…"

"I'll be there along with Kate," Irene said, "We'll help you look after John."

"What makes the Father think that you'll go anyway?" John asked Sherlock that night when they were back at his house.

Sherlock shrugged, he had been thinking about it all throughout the day when they had been with Irene looking for suitable clothes and masks to wear, "The Father must really know my personality. Either that or he's taking a huge gamble in me going to a stupid socialite event like a masquerade ball."

"You're not one for masquerade parties now are you?" John asked as he looked at the suit that Sherlock had hung up on the wardrobe.

"I'm going only to find the person who froze me in ice for all those years. You can say I'm going because I want revenge," Sherlock murmured.

John laughed, a soft, light sound. Sherlock had noticed that the hunter was now more open around him ever since that day and the vampire had to admit that he liked it. He smiled to himself now and John asked him, "What's with the smile now?"

He shook his head, "Nothing, I just thought laughing suits you," Sherlock murmured. Truth was he was worried about the masquerade ball. Having John there with him would be a great danger and a great handicap factor should the hunter fall into the hands of the Father. John Watson was his now, his responsibility and that meant that should the hunter die it would be because of him and he didn't want that.

"You should get some rest," Sherlock said trying to keep his tone light and not too gave or depressing, "We've got a lot to discuss tomorrow."

"Yeah," John said noting how Sherlock was trying to chase him away from his room even thought it was subtle. He stood and before he turned to go he leaned in to the vampire, kissing him lightly on the cheek, "Good night Sherlock."

"Good night," Sherlock whispered in the hunter's ear now, returning the hug, holding on for a little longer than was necessary before he let go of John.

The last he saw of the hunter was as he closed the door to his room. Now Sherlock sat on his bed, alone. Outside it was night and he was so tempted to head out to find the Father. No, he couldn't leave John alone in this house. If anything, he would stay here. He settled back in bed now, looking up at the ceiling as he tuned in to his surroundings, picking up the sounds of John's movement in the room across his. He had just finished brushing his teeth in the bathroom and was just now climbing into bed. Sherlock could hear as John fell off into sleep, his breathing slowing down now as his senses calmed down for the sleep of the night.

With that still in his mind Sherlock too slowly drifted into a sort of sleep. It was like going back in time for him though, because his sleep was of a different kind…

AN: Okay here's the next chapter and yes it's been long since i uploaded! I apologise! Anyway do leave a comment to let me know what you liked and i'll see you soon in the next chapter, which i shall try my very best to put up on time!