The curious case of Sherlocks Heart (closed)

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock sighed. It seemed she was right; her eyes weren't even showing the onset of REM sleep. It would be some time before she was conscious again. "Alright, Mrs. Hudson. Do take care. I will check in once we rise."

Pulling his robe around himself again and retying it, Sherlock walked back up to his flat in the building and pushed back into his bedroom. Shedding the extraneous, he collapsed back into the bed and slept. It may not have been a victorious sleep, but it was enough to be rejuvenating.

 

[Asa]

John was the first to rise. He had a patient to tend to as he quietly walked down the stairs. Glancing and seeing that Mrs Mrs Hudson was in her flat he made his way the rest of the way down to Iara's apartment and knocked softly not getting an answer he opened the door and was stunned at what he saw. Closing the door carefully he quickly hurried up the stairs. Tapping on Mrs Hudson's door on the way by carefully.

He seemed very rattled as he placed waiting for them but also not doing anything to make too much noise

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock rose at the sound of John hustling about the house, groaning as he wished for a few more hours of sleep. Pulling on his robe and slippers again, Sherlock came out, a dark cloud over his head. "Watson, what is the reason for all this commotion and do I need to be awake to hear it?" He asked, his throat raspy as he spoke.

 

[Asa]

Oh I don't know perhaps that there is a rather large clouded leopard in my patients bed instead of my patient. You know... the island wild cat that tends NOT to be seen by humans!!!

Hearing John's words Mrs Hudson muttered oh dear and turned to hurry to Iara's room to protect her if she had to.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock's eyes widened and he hustled downstairs after Mrs. Hudson. He managed to get inside Iara's room but held up his hands. "Mrs. Hudson, please don't do anything rash. We are trying to put all of this together and we're not about to involve the authorities. What would we tell them, after all? So... let's all calm down and see about our... guest." He said, looking past her at the rather large cat laying on the couch behind Mrs. Hudson.

 

[Asa]

Mrs Hudson...

John began knowing how insane it sounded even before he said it but what other explanation was there.

Is that... that is Iara isn't it?

Mrs Hudson was at her side and nodded to John holding up the same paw that still had the IV in it that John had put in Iara.

Yes... she is.

She pet her paw gently watching over her sleeping.

https://bigcatswildcats.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/sunda-clouded-leopard-image.jpg

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock just stood there, trying to process what he was seeing. The alarms didn't go off over night. There was no way someone could smuggle in a cat that size and hook it up to the IV the same way John had. No matter how illogical or fantastical it sounded, it was distinctly possible that this large predator on the couch was Iara in another form. His mind raced, trying to think of any other possibility as this revelation threw so much of the world around him into question. He had to sit down and put his head in his hands for a moment to approach this new reality logically.

 

[Asa]

The large cat began to sniff at the air slowly waking up with a snarl. Mrs Hudson calmly began to speak to her.

Iara I am here it's alright.

Iara moved her head a little eyes open to see Mrs Hudson then seeing others around them she tried to left up ready to protect her human friend and herself till she felt the IV in her paw and growled.

Easy Iara... this is John and Sherlock. I trust them... John helped you. Its okay... you will follow Drs orders is that clear.

She tried to push up more only to have to plop back down with a growled

No... lab...

No honey no laboratories no test and nothing like that. I called John to help you because I trust him... and Sherlock.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock heard the cat make noise approximating language. So Iara's intelligence is still inside this form, but she seemed very protecting of Mrs. Hudson. He stood up and came over, sitting down to face Iara and Mrs. Hudson.

"I can honestly say that you have nothing to fear from John or I. If what we surmise is correct, there's very little either of us could do to stop you any way. This is also not something we want the government blundering into. Their haste and greed would stomp all over you and I and ruin any chance to learn about what's really happening here. If you don't mind me asking, how is it that you and Mrs. Hudson are so close?" Sherlock asked, his curiosity unable to stop himself from asking questions.

 

[Asa]

Iara looked to Mrs Hudson.

Frrriend... parrrents... herrr... friends.

I went to school with her parents at university. I knew what her mother was as well. Her family has strong ties here in Europe. I also got to watch her getting imprisoned in a lab kill her father because of someone's protective streak getting the better of her training to stay human around humans no matter how enraged she became.

Iara laid her head on Mrs Hudson's lap and studied Sherlock. John walked over.

Should I take out the IV. I get the feeling you were being nice keeping it in your hand when you changed.

Still not believing he was saying that of that he was talking to a leopard.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

"Are those deep ties why you've stayed out of the system? I'm sure you don't survive purely on the generosity of others." Sherlock said, wondering how a being that can transform like this could have gone this long without being more widely known.

He kept his eyes on Iara, talking directly to her rather than to Mrs. Hudson. It was clear she understood and he was not about to have his landlord intervene in their discussion like a pet's owner.

 

[Asa]

Norrrmally...

She slowly began to shift allowing the IV to fall away as Mrs Hudson grabbed for a blanket for her.

My required hunting has been a little less urgent. Other methods could be used but this trip it was necessary to be... beyond thorough. There had to be no possibility of survival for the target.

She curled the blanket around her

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock sits up a bit, trying not to look as Iara shifts to human form. As he figured, she would be naked as she made the transition and the blanket would only cover so much in time. He didn't dwell on it, no matter what he saw. This woman was a killer after all.

"And what made your hunting required at all? Why not use your skills to gather evidence and have the authorities step in?" he asked, figuring that he may as well ask since she brought it up first.

 

[Asa]

You would not believe me if I told you Sherlock Holmes. But if you want the truth you will get it. It would be impossible for local police to handle a demonically possessed and those like me.

She studied his eyes.

Even though you have seen me shift you still can not fathom that someone like me could exist.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock looked incredulous, raising an eyebrow. "Demons now as well?" He said, ready to throw it away, but what she said hung in the air as he looked into her eyes. He frowned, screwing up his face in thought.

She was absolutely right. Even though he had just watched her shift right in front of his eyes, his mind would not accept it as truth. A part of his mind was wrestling with trying to figure out all the ways in which it could have been faked.

Holographic projection.
Induced hallucination.
A psychotic break.

Each explanation had 2 or 3 pieces of evidence that worked against it. Each plausible case was dismissed as quickly as it came to mind. So, he had no choice but to settle on Pascal's Wager.

"Alright, if what you say is true, what can I do to help stop them?" He finally asked.

 

[Asa]

What would it take to help you understand and believe what your eyes have seen?

She moved to rest a hand on his hands. John turned his attentions to Sherlock and watched him for a bit. Mrs Hudson smiled to them hoping that Sherlock would be able to handle this twist to his reality.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock looked down at her hand on his. It felt very real against his skin. Swallowing, he looked back up into her eyes. "That's why we never found footprints, just cat paw prints, isn't it?" Sherlock finally asked, wondering if she would admit to it.

 

[Asa]

With a wink she nodded and shifted again. This time a small housecat fought to get free of the blanket till its head was free and she looked to Sherlock mewing for help to get rid of the rest of the blanket.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Something about her petite form made him chuckle. Perhaps it was the struggle of the poor thing to get out from under the covers that made him smile. Either way, he forgot for a moment that this creature was behind the murders he'd been investigating. He realized it by the time he'd extracted the poor kitty from the mountain of blankets it was languishing under. He looked down at Iara, now curled up on his lap and narrowed his eyes. He had forgotten himself for a moment, but he dare not lash out in front of Mrs. Hudson.

"Very cute... but I'd rather not have you in my lap all morning..." He said, depositing the kitten form back on top of the blanket again.

 

[Asa]

The cat seemed to pout but curled up on the blanket briefly anyway.

Mrs. Hudson had gone and gotten her some clothes a sundress and laid it down beside her.

Here child when you are ready.

The cat looked at the dress and snorted.

Now dont start that with me it would be far easier for you to change forms into instead of your normal denim and leather. Plus it's a lovely dress so wear it.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock saw the kitten pad around on the couch as Mrs. Hudson laid out some clothes. "I suppose I should return upstairs and get ready myself." He pushed himself up to his feet and turned back to Iara.

"I trust you won't be leaving us any time soon?" He asked, hoping they could continue their discussion after a shower and some breakfast.

 

[Asa]

Mrs Hudson answered as if judge jury and executioner.

She will not be leaving any time soon and you both will help her or else. She cant leave town anyway she has not tended to her visits at the palace... have you?

The cat moved back under the blanket still hissing at the dress.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock's brow furrowed as he looked at the hissing kitten. "Palace? As in... the Royal Family? You're not telling me that they are all like you, are you?" He asked incredulously. He'd heard enough already that pushed the bounds of reality; this was taking things a little too far.

"I'll deal with this after I have a cup of tea and a shower..." He muttered, rubbing his eyes as he stepped away. Heading back upstairs, he did just that. A long soaking shower and a warm cuppa later and Sherlock was walking back downstairs.

 

[Asa]

Knowing Mrs Hudson was right and that she could not leave till the visit she was back to human dressed and sitting at the table in her apartment pouring over maps and other papers. A cup of tea sitting close by untouched.When Sherlock walked in she spoke without even looking.

As for the Royal visit that she so blatantly chose to remind me of no they are not like me but they know of me and are my... wards if you will. I tend to things that plague the country that can not be handled by other more human methods. Not that I expect your logically limited mortal brain to fathom Sherlock. It is not your fault. Powers that be centuries ago deemed that human world and paranormal world be separate at their very core that any that know about things from my world are thought insane.

 

[such_a_bad_man]

Sherlock walked over and sat at her table without invitation. He folded his hands in his lap and crossed his legs as he looked over her and the maps before her. "So really you're a serial killer for our benefit? Or do you not see it as murder so much as self-defense of humanity? I want to get the particulars of what you did and will do in order so that there will be no misunderstandings going forward. Now that I have seen through the veil to the other side, I wish to understand it or I fear I will be consumed by it, the latter being an undesirable outcome for myself and Mrs. Hudson, I'd wager."

He sat and watched, curious for any hints or ticks to give away an emotional response to his confrontational approach. He wanted to know this Iara before they deepened their relationship beyond an initial meeting.