Chapter 26 #2
“Brother. Enough.” Virtue threw up his hands in frustration. “Stop throwing a tantrum. She outplayed you, and the score is tied. So what? It’s just another round, and you seem to like her—”
“Like her?” Vile howled in laughter. “You truly are an idiot. She can’t even decide whose side she’s on!
If anything, she keeps using me like a cheap whore.
Just another erotica short story to get one off before I’m abandoned and forgotten like all the rest.” He grinned.
“Not that I mind it in the moment too much.”
“Stop. Stop.” Sasha thought her head was going to explode. She was going to cry, scream, collapse, weep, and get a migraine all at once. “I can’t take this anymore.”
“A shame. We have such a very long way to go. Fine. Very well. You’re forgiven. We have to move onto the next story, and we can’t keep bickering about who stole whose death.” Vile straightened his tie, and smoothed a hand down the front of his suit coat. “Sidney. Choose.”
Sasha stared at Vile. Suspicious.
He only smiled a little bit wider.
“I—I—” Sidney shook her head, and looked to Sasha for guidance. “I don’t know, what should I pick?”
“No looking to her for help, she had her turn.” Vile wagged a finger at Sidney.
“Pick whatever you want, Sid.” Virtue smiled at her gently. “Your favorite story. Something that’ll make you happy.”
Vile made a sound like someone throwing up.
Sasha slapped a hand over her eyes. But she couldn’t help but feel like something was still very wrong.
“Can I pick a genre?” Sidney asked quietly after a long pause. “I don’t know if I have a favorite book in that genre.”
“Oh no.” Vile groaned, clearly seeing what was coming before they did. “Please, spare me.”
“You can.” Virtue walked up to Sidney and placed a hand on her shoulder. She shifted closer to him reflexively. “But it’ll be harder to come up with something unique. You have to play to tropes if you do a full genre.”
They were a beautiful pair. And it was clear from the way he smiled at her that while Sherlock and Watson hadn’t been meant for each other, Sidney and Virtue might have different feelings.
Vile made another hurk noise.
“I don’t care.” Sidney shut her eyes and rested her forehead on Virtue’s shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “I just can’t—I can’t die like that again. I just can’t.”
“I know, Sid. I know.” Virtue was even calling Sidney by her shortened name.
“I need somewhere safe. Somewhere we can—where I can just be safe.” Sidney sniffled. The horror of the train crash was clearly catching up to her. Anger could only get a person so far before it burned out. She glared at Vile. “Somewhere you’ll be ugly and only a minor plot point.”
Vile rolled his eyes. “Regency romance, I take it?”
“Regency romance.” Sidney wrapped her arms around Virtue. “It’s my turn to have a story where I get to feel loved.”
Virtue tilted her head up toward him with a finger underneath her chin. His smile was like every single illustration of a Prince Charming in every book she’d ever seen. “You are loved wherever you go, Sidney.”
“I’m going to be sick,” Vile muttered.
Loneliness stabbed at Sasha suddenly and without warning. Sure. She’d fucked Moriarty. But she hadn’t had that. It was a very different kind of connection. And one she’d honestly never had in her life.
She’d never been in love.
No one had ever loved her.
Now she’d never know what it was like, would she?
She’d be dead before she ever had that chance.
I’m letting you get out of here alive, Sidney. Somehow. Some way. If I can’t get us both out of here—you’ll be the one who goes free. I promise you.
“Come here, Sasha.” Vile reached out a hand to her. “It’s time to go.”
“Brother.” Virtue gently stepped away from Sidney to approach his twin. It really was remarkable how similar they were to each other, and how, well, night and day different they were at the same time. “Whatever you’re planning on doing, don’t.”
“Me?” Vile put a hand to his chest, smirking. “Who said I was planning anything?”
Virtue crossed his arms over his chest and stared at his twin.
Vile frowned. “I said I forgave her. We’re still early on in this adventure. She’s still adjusting to a life of villainy.”
“Mmhm.” Virtue sighed. “Just, don’t. I mean it.” He turned to walk back to Sidney, stopping to place a hand on Sasha’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I can’t help you more.”
“I know. Thanks.” Hopefully Vile was telling the truth and he’d actually forgiven her for the epilogue.
Hopefully.
She wasn’t going to hold her breath.
“Come along, Sasha dear.” Vile held out his hand again to her. “We have a Regency”—he gagged—“romance to suffer through.”
“I thought you said you didn’t mind romance?” She walked up to him, but ignored his outstretched hand.
He didn’t seem to care as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hugged her into his side none-too-gently. “Some, like I said, are fine.” He lowered his voice to a murmur that was meant only for her. “But don’t worry…we won’t be there long.”
His hand tightened painfully on her shoulder.
He hadn’t forgiven her.
The world disappeared into darkness.
At least he didn’t drop her that time.