Failing Upward

Chapter 36: Endangered Species

"There you are," Moriarty snapped, turning to Moran. "I expected you yesterday. Did you see Holmes?"

"He's pretty, but soiled," Moran said as he stepped behind Moriarty. "I prefer my fucks fresh."

"So particular!" Moriarty said, reaching out and brushing his fingertips against my cheek. I slapped his hand away. "This one looks delicious after a good fuck, all ruffled and flushed."

The metal table vibrated in back of me. I closed my eyes. If only I had better control. If I had all this power, why did I feel so fucking helpless?

Moran stood beside Moriarty. He looked the same as the man I knew. His face gave nothing away. Moran's eyes rested on the syringe in Moriarty's coat pocket.

"He does look good," Moran answered, looking from me to Moriarty. "I'll have plenty of time with Holmes after he's cleaned up. Until then, Watson will do."

"I don't think so, Seb. He's for me. You'll have to wait before you can play. It's not like you— you're usually so patient," Moriarty observed.

"You know, I could assist you with him," Moran said and slipped the syringe from Moriarty's lab coat.

Moriarty smirked, "I do enjoy an audience. But for this special occasion, I think not. "

"I promise to keep quiet," Moran tapped the side of syringe, and Moriarty gave a feral smile.

This wasn't going as I expected. Moran was supposed to rush in and rescue us like Bruce Willis. Instead Moran took a scalpel off the metal tray on the table and eyed Sherlock and me like he's contemplating a vivisection.

"You're not going to make sarcastic remarks about my bedside manner, are you?" No, not like the Moran I knew. "I think you'll need to hold him, Jim."

"My pleasure, Seb."

Moriarty's cold hands snatched my forearm as I lunged away, sending the metal table crashing to the floor. Moriarty really wasn't any match for me. But Moran? I started to swing at Moriarty and was greeted with the icy steel of Moran's scalpel pressed against my throat. We stood face to face, Moriarty at my shoulder, eyes lit up with perverse glee. I could feel the blood trickle down my neck and wondered what would happen if I went for it. Moran dramatically held the syringe up in his other hand, inspecting it closely. I held my breath waiting for Moran to stick me with the serum. As he looked through the clear liquid into my eyes, he winked. I blinked. Then with one swift jab, Moran plunged the needle into Moriarty's arm.

"You fuck!" Moriarty yelped in shock. "What did you do?!" Moriarty grabbed his arm, syringe still bobbing around in his shoulder. His dark eyes went wide, then he dropped heavily to his knees as he pulled the syringe out and flung it across the room.

"You weren't listening," Moran said, leaning down into Moriarty's face. "I said I only liked clean fucks. You're as clean as they get, Jimmy boy."

I stood stunned. Maybe this was Die Hard.

"You dick! I'll kill you! You're a dead man, Moran!" he clawed at his arm. "Pain! I feel pain!'

Moran shook his head at Moriarty. "That serum might be a bit too much for your majesty. It wasn't meant for some ordinary immortal. I imagine it's fucking with you something awful."

"But I've used this before!" Moriarty whined. "Something's different! I never felt pain!"

Moran looked utterly bored. "Like it? Always thought when you finally felt it you'd enjoy it. While you're down there, why don't you blow me? It will save time. You're about at the right level."