The Vampiric Mystery
Chapter 2: Delving Deep
As way his way, Holmes refused to release any information on where they were going or why. John had learned long ago to simply tag along and patiently wait to see for himself. To his surprise, the taxi they were in pulled up outside Marylebone Library, a place that Holmes, for all of his vast reserves of intelligence, usually avoided. To John's surprise, Holmes leaned forward with a fifty pound note clutched in his hand and paid the cabby.
"Keep the change. Tell no one that you saw me entering the library."
And with that, the great Sherlock Holmes climbed quickly out of the taxi, turned his collar up and began walking towards the front door of the library, John immediately in tow. Catching up with the brisk pace of the consulting detective, John took one look at the guarded expression of his old friend and knew he was uncomfortable with entering a place that he would regard as containing more information than his own mind (which of course made sense seeing as that is the general idea of libraries). The librarian who greeted them was not your cliché librarian. Rather than her being a grey-haired, elderly, frail individual with glasses and a pointed nose, she looked like she was in her mid to late thirties with slightly pale skin, green eyes and brown hair tied up in a loose ponytail. She did, however, have the short stature of a librarian but still she held herself proudly. When she saw the two men walk through the door, she smiled widely.
"Welcome to Marylebone Library gentlemen. May I assist you with anything in particular?"
Her tone was soft but her accent gave her away.
"You're not from around here are you?" John asked bluntly, silently berating himself as he spoke.
The woman simply smiled and shook her head. Just as she was about to speak, Holmes, as he usually does, cut across her, not even bothering to look at either of them, his eyes instead scanning the rows of shelves around the library.
"I think you'll find that you're wrong there John. Her accent indicates otherwise but from the way she holds herself and indeed her slight rise in tone at the end of each sentence, this woman is a Brit." He resumed his scanning of the library shelves.
The woman looked impressed with Holmes' knowledge of her from so little information and confirmed that she was indeed British. Unfortunately for her, Sherlock Holmes takes confirmation of his own theories as a compliment and thanked her.
"Now on to business. I- We are looking for a book of old legends, preferably to do with vampires and the like. Any suggestions? And do not even consider trying to pawn off Twilight as being about vampires."
John closed his eyes and rubbed the sides of his nose. Once again Sherlock Holmes had portrayed himself as an ignorant prick. To John's surprise however (the day had held many surprises for him already and many more were to be revealed) the woman laughed lightly and beckoned for them to follow her.
"You wouldn't believe how many young girls we get in here, asking for research materials on vampires with Twilight being their only exposure to vampires. I must say, their reactions to actual vampires are quite amusing. Many are simply disgusted but we've had our fair share stomping up to the front desk and claiming that our literature is flawed. If you are looking for old legends I would recommend The Giaour by Lord Byron. It contains a passage on the eternal damnation of vampires. Also, you might wish to read The Vampyre by John William Polidori and of course the classic Dracula by Bram Stoker. Outside of that, you will be lucky to find anything that is not erotic tripe or a penny dreadful collection."
She led them to a large bookshelf labelled 'Fiction/Horror' and pointed to a section of red leather-bound books.
"The red-backed books are all to do with vampires and/or werewolves. I'm sure you'll find what you are looking for there. Come and get me if you need further assistance."
John thanked her, not expecting Holmes to do the same. The usually stoic and frigid detective had a small smile tugging at his lips as he shook the librarian's hand in gratitude. John had only ever seen him react in such a way in regards to two other individuals. The first had been Irene Adler, criminal mastermind and the almost intellectual equal of Holmes. The other had been at John's wedding to Mary Morstan, where he had developed a fondness for Mary's maid of honour, Janine. Although the relationship had only lasted a short while, Holmes had confessed that he enjoyed her company for its duration. The look he now gave the librarian was very similar to, if not the same look, Holmes had given both aforementioned women upon meeting them. Despite being consistently branded as 'gay', John was definitively straight and, though Mary had passed on a few years prior, he was always happy to see any form of human capabilities shine through in Holmes.
"She seems nice." John said to Holmes, who was watching her walk back to her desk.
"Hmm? Oh, yes I suppose she's alright for a human." Holmes replied, trying to be nonchalant.
"Why do you do that? Why do you refer to other people as 'human'? Do you not realise, Holmes, that you are one of us?" John retorted, getting a little miffed at Holmes' ending statement.
"One of you? Come now John, you know me long enough now to see that I am more akin to the fictional android than a full-blooded human. I've said it countless times. I am a-"
"High-functioning sociopath. Yes I know Holmes. But would it kill you, just once, to associate yourself with other people?"
Holmes looked at him amusedly and John immediately knew what was coming next.
"Don't you dare give me that 'is it benefic-"
"Would it be beneficial for anyone if I were to associate myself with the common folk of this city? Tell me John, if I am as brilliant as these people make me out to be, along with my robotic personality, how can I possibly associate myself with these people?"
John did not know why he said what he did next but he instantly regretted it.
"You didn't mind associating with Adler or Janine now did you? What were they mere experiments in some social test you were carrying out?"
For the first time in a long time, John saw sadness in Holmes' eyes. It wasn't often that something could be said to Holmes that would upset him, but John had hit a weak point in his mental defences.
"Holmes I- I'm sorry."
By this point, Holmes would usually have silenced him and passed it off as nothing. This time however, he staggered backwards slightly, not even bothering to hide it. Seizing him under both arms, John led him over to a nearby bench.
"Sherlock! What's wrong? Are you alright?" The good doctor asked.
"You're right John. I did not mind my fraternisation with those women. They did something to me, the both of them. Something my logical brain cannot discern. I'm Sherlock Holmes for the God's sake, I shouldn't be getting butterflies."
John shook his head. "I'm sorry Holmes, we've spoke of this before now. Why in the world are you only reacting like this now?"
Holmes closed his eyes, breathed in deeply and clapped his hands together.
"Never mind that. Come, there's work to be done!"
For the second time that day, John Watson shook his head at his friend's eagerness to forget about his questioning and return to research. Despite the determined look now plastered on Holmes' face, John knew something had happened recently, in which Holmes did not wish to divulge.
'Bloody hell Holmes, what's wrong with you?' Watson thought to himself before joining Holmes in his search for the recommended pieces of literature.
Right, now, I feel I should apologise for this one. I started it off this morning and hit a mental block but not like the usual 'I have no idea of what to write' type block. More like 'I'm not going to have anything more to write so I best get it all down as quick as I can' type block. The next chapter will hopefully be a lot more interesting. As for Holmes' mini-breakdown, fret not. It will be expanded upon as well as his apparent fondness for the librarian. Until next time my friends! ~ An Inconvenient Arrival.