Dancing With The Devil (part two)

Chapter 16: Miss Me?

Astrid screamed out into the street. She didn't stop. People came out of their homes and looked out of their windows at the manic blonde woman screaming out the name of the guy who's face was on every TV screen in the country. She stopped, completely out of breath, before collapsing into the floor, her head in her hands. The people slowly went back into their houses as Astrid began to get up. She started to walk back to Dominic's house until she heard a voice behind her.

"Hey baby." The voice slurred, causing every muscle in Astrid's body to freeze. She slowly turned around to face the Irish voice behind him, "miss me?"

"You!" Is all that Astrid could think to say. She wasn't smiling. She was angry. Astrid found herself storming over to him. She stopped about a foot in front of him and repeated what she had said, this time, it was a question, "you?"

The man in front of her nodded slowly and put his arms out, inviting her into an embrace, Astrid slowly stepped forward. She put her hand up to his cheeks, however, to the Irishman's (and her own) surprise, she slapped him.

Hard.

James Moriarty instantly reached a hand up to his cheek that had gone slightly red. He frowned.

"What the hell was that for?"

Astrid scoffed and shook her head in disbelief.

"What the fuck do you think?" She chocked out before running back into her own house and locking the door behind her. Through tears, she reached her shaky hands to the landline and dialled in Sebastian's number, before she could press call, there was a loud banging and two voices.

"Astrid!" They both shouted repeatedly and simultaneously. They were both Irish. Astrid jumped up.

"You annoying little Irish men can just..." she didn't really know what to say, "...just fuck off!"

"Astrid!" Came one voice that sounded more like Dominic, "just let me in, we can talk about this."

"I don't want you two right now!" She yelled, "just both of you just fuck off!"

She ran up the stairs and practically leapt into her room before making the call that was so rudely interrupted. After a few seconds, the familiar deep husky voice of Sebastian Moran came up.

"Astrid, thank God." He said, "I was about to call you."

"Jim's back."

"I know."

"Please just get over here as quickly as you can."

"I'm already on my way, I'll be five minutes, I've got Faith with me too ."

"This day couldn't get any worse." She grunted to herself, "I've got two manic Irishmen trying to kick my door down."

"Story of your life, eh?" Seb chuckled

"Shut the fuck up." Astrid sighed, "Not the right moment Seb."

"Sorry." he said, "be there as quick as I can."

Astrid hung up the phone before slowly standing u and heading towards the window that showed the front drive. She looked down to see Jim stood in the centre of the lawn looking up at her. he raised his hands up to her.

"Come on Astrid."

Astrid pushed the window open and looked down at him.

"You're a fucking bastard, you know that?"

"I do." he stated.

"Are you gonna tell me why you pretended to be dead for three years?"

"Of course I am." he shouted up to her, "just let me in and I'll tell you everything-"

"You could have called. Just, left some sort of note."

"I'm sorry, Astrid."

"All you had to was say I'm not dead! That's it!"

"I know."

"Then why didn't you?!"

"Because I couldn't!"

"Well why the fuck not?"

"I'll tell you, just let me come up."

"Yeah that's funny." Astrid laughed sarcastically before slamming the window shut and closing the blinds. Suddenly their was a banging coming from the side door that caused Astrid to jump in fright. The clashing was followed by a raspy Irish shout.

"Come on Astrid, open the God damn door!" Dominic's voice rang out throughout the house. Astrid slowly trudged down the stairs to the other Irishman, stopping a few metres in front of the door, "Astrid, let me in. We can talk about this."

"You don't understand Dom!"

"Yes but you can help me understand."

"No I can't."

"Well why not?"

"Don't ask questions."

"Astrid-"

"Please, just go home Dominic."

"I'm not just gonna leave you here with him."

"He's not gonna hurt me don't worry."

"I need to know your okay."

"Yeah, and I need you to leave!"

There was a long pause. Astrid didn't realise that she had shouted, until she heard a small sad 'okay' and the sound of footsteps walking away from the house. Astrid walked towards the door and put her hand to the handle, before turning around to rest her back against the wood and let her body slowly slip down the wall.