Royalty

Chapter 14: Say Hello To The Virus

Astra's POV:

I blinked. A harsh light was hurting my eyes. My head hurt. I tried to shift, but my shoulders protested. A voice cuts through the odd buzzing in my head.

"Darling ... Come on, that's it, now your eyes are open."

At first all I see is a pair of drop-dead gorgeous chocolate brown eyes ... and then I recognize the face. And the lilting Irish accent. He realizes that I recognize him.

"Now you see me." He grins. "Been standing here almost ten minutes waiting for you to wake up properly. Are you sure you weren't faking? I didn't think my sedative was that strong."

It took all my self-control not to launch myself at him, scream at him, almost any horrible thing I could think of. I bit my tongue, instead settling for shooting him a glare.

"Aw, c'mon, don't be like that. You liked me!"

"How do you know I wasn't acting? What if I'd known from the beginning? How would you know?"

The look he gave me should be the textbook definition of disdain. "Please, sweetheart. I'm a lot of things, but a fool isn't one of them. You liked me, you just don't want to admit it."

"Past tense, asshole. What do you want with me?"

He smirked. "Straight to the point then? Fine with me. Weeelll ... I have a few questions."

"Then ask them and stop showing off." I took in my surroundings as the bitter words shot off my tongue. Small room, no more than twelve-by-twelve feet or so ... gray concrete walls. There was a door, but my way to it was blocked by him. I wasn't tied to the chair I was sitting on, which surprised me.

"Well, aren't you eager? Alright, then. Let's start with this: How did you meet Sherlock and his soldier boy?"

"Why do you care?"

"I'm asking the questions."

"Why do you care?" I repeated, acting like he hadn't said anything. He sighed.

"This could end in your favor, if you would quit being so DIFFICULT!" he shouted the last word, and I flinched, almost falling straight into another panic attack. His voice calmed again. "I'll ask again, hm? How did you meet Sherlock?"

I took a moment to calm myself as his dark eyes stared directly into mine. I took a deep breath. "Same day he met John. I was homeless, he passed by, I made a few quick deductions, Sherlock was interested. Here I am now."

"Well, isn't that an interesting coincidence?" he asked as if talking to himself. "She didn't mention that ..." He turned back to face me. "Do you know?"

"Know what?"

"You and Sherlock."

"What are you talking about?" I asked, bewildered by the sudden change in direction.

"Nothing, sweetheart. So, let's get on with it. Why does Sherlock keep you around?"

"Excuse you?"

"Oh, don't make up some excuse about equal minds, if that was what he wanted, he'd move in with the Iceman. Now, John, John makes sense, balances him out, even if that's not what I'd -- Anyway. Point is ... why you?"

"If I could read minds, you would bet I wouldn't be here today. If you wanted to know that, you should have kidnapped him. I don't know."

"Oh, come on, be intelligent. I know you are. Think, take a few guesses."

"I don't know! Why did you kidnap me in the first place, anyway?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out, can't you tell?"