Sherlock Preferences and One-Shots

A New Story?!?

Hi, guys! Long time no see!

So, I have some good news!

I have posted another story!!!

If you guys follow me, you may have already seen it, but us called "Lie." It's a project I did for a creative writing course and I am pretty much in love with the way it turned out❤️

It's about a gentleman and his friends from the Victorian era falling in love with the beautiful, yet secretive Miss Darcelle Adler. During that time, however there is a killer running around the streets of London and our main character, Neirin Morganson is determined to find out who is behind it all.

It's a fast paced, short story that had me sitting on the edge of my seat, even though I was writing it!

So, I was just hoping I could spread the word to you guys and help get that story some love!

So, here's the deal. In this update, I'll be positing the first chapter and every day this week I'll be posting another chapter IF I can get enough support from you guys!

So, if I can get at least 20 of you to go and vote for that book, then I'll be posting daily updates for the short story!

And these updates get AT LEAST 400 readers in the first day or two, so I KNOW at least 20 of you can go and show my new work some love! Or if you're not a fan, let me know! Any constructive criticism is welcome!

Also, I just wanted to take one second to say that this book is almost at 200k reads!

LIKE, WHAT?!?!? That's crazy!

You guys are so awesome and I thought that giving you a new story would be a good way to say thank you for so much love and support.

Thanks!

Anyways, without further ado.... Here is chapter one of my new short story, Lie:

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Chapter 1:

Even though he had nothing to drink, the world was still whirling around him - the multitudes of couples dancing to the string quartet in perfect unison seemed to make him dizzy, the amount of motion in the room overstimulating his senses. His senses were overwhelmed with the sound of chatter and his eyes filled with the sight of the carnival of colors in the golden ballroom around him.

His friends, however, were the most charming and successful men in the room. They stole the show and had caught the attention of every lady in the room at least once – and they were on track to having at least one dance with every woman in the room. And it would certainly be an astonishment to any other man if they left without the attraction of at least one of them before the evening ended.

"Neirin," The accented voice of his dear friend, John Wickham reached his ears. "What are you doing without a partner? There are too many pretty women around for you to be without dancing at least once."

"I seem to have no better way to be spending my time," The gentleman replied, his usual friendly warmth and kindness hinting his voice. "I know no one here and I suppose it may stay that way."

As sad as it seemed, it was true. He was dragged to this event and even though he sounded so lively, he had no reason to be content. Wickham had invited him here for a business opportunity and even though he had no interest in law, he decided to not let the opportunity go. Maybe he could make a few connections, just in case he ever needed them – even though university had sent him many people he could rely on.

"Well, my dear friend, I hate to see you so solitary," George piped in, clapping a hand firmly on Neirin's shoulder clad with his suit jacket.

His eyes took a turn around the room in an almost mechanical manner, blocking out the next words of his friend. His eyes looked over the smiling, blushing women in their colored skirts and their partners, with their hair pristinely slicked back as they swiftly danced without fault.

But, his gaze journeyed a bit further and he found a dark-haired woman descending the stairwell. Her eyes were a vibrant green and her lips were painted as red as blood. But, her grasp on the railing was as light as a feather. She had an air to her that surrounded her like an angel's glow and he couldn't deny that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. 

"Well, if you're going to stand there and gawk at a woman like that, you may be more satisfied taking a dance with her," John said, giving Neirin a suggestive nudge and earning a small chuckle from the third man in the group. "It will make for a less embarrassing story in the near future."

"Don't be absurd - I wasn't staring," The gentleman said as he folded his arms defensively over his chest.

"You shouldn't get yourself caught in that lie or else the Phantom is going to take you before the night is over," George mused with a tiny chuckle.

"Oh, that's ridiculous. The Phantom isn't real, George," John scoffed, sounding as if they had discussed the topic many a time before. "He is just a myth – nothing more."

The conversation makes the gentleman's curiosity peak. He had never heard of this "Phantom" over the few weeks he had been living in the restless city and the thought of this unknown man was both intriguing and frightening. The gentleman raised a brow in question and his friends quickly caught on.

"It's just a myth – don't believe another word about the subject," John interjected before the gentleman could say another word about the idea. "You'll frighten someone if they hear you blabbering like that."

Despite being scolded, George leaned in close to me and lowered his voice, finding a compromise with John without saying a word. "The police have all but given up on him... whoever he is," He said with a tone of drama to his voice. But, if he spoke with that voice to scare Neirin, he wouldn't have accomplished that. He had only made a certain interest rise in him.

Neirin was about to voice that interest but, George was too quick to add something to his speech. "Well, it doesn't matter now. It may be fake, or it may be true. But, all that matters now is getting you introduced to that woman you can't seem to take your eyes away from."

He was swept away before he could even protest the idea – his legs were moving without his mind's consent and his heart had started to pick up its tempo. Every step had seemed like a mile of walking, making his palms sweat – but he was standing in front of the woman before he knew it. Instead of the fearful composure he expected of himself, he instead was cool and resolute – surprising both himself and his friend.

"Miss Adler, this is Neirin Morganson," George introduced as the secretly nervous gentleman gave a small bow, almost too terrified to meet those eyes of hers.

The lady gave a small, polite curtsy although it was clear her mind was someplace else. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Morganson." She said with a certain elegance in her voice that only Neirin was able to pick out.

"The pleasure is all mine, Miss," The gentleman returned, causing a spark of some sort of curious emotion to appear in her eyes.

Somewhere during the introduction, George had been swept away, probably off somewhere dancing with another lady. If that were the case, then that would be of no surprise to Neirin – or any other person in the room for that matter.

"Do you dance, Mr. Morganson," The lady asked.

"I do, Miss," Was the gentleman's simple reply.

She then held her hand out to him with the faintest of expectant looks in her expression and he couldn't say no - he couldn't say no to a dance with such a woman.