(Rachel's POV)

"I'm not doing this," Amanda insisted adamantly.

Thanks to my bargaining, Amanda was in much better shape. Her injuries were almost gone, and she was getting better every day. Although, she did always look over her shoulder. She would be near only me, as though we were linked by an invisible chain.

Since the days following Amanda's freedom, Moriarty left us alone. He left Amanda alone, mostly. He still liked to toy with me. Tried to whisper seductive thoughts in my ear. Luckily for me I became immune to the snake's charm.

We were in Amanda's assigned room. Like me, she had opened a box that was laid out on her bed. Inside, like mine, had been an extravagant dress, and a mask to match. Our colors contrasted, though: Amanda's outfit was green, long, with a slit up one leg. Mine was a bright red and strapless, with frills towards the bottom.

"No note," she said, looking at the dress distastefully. "No jewelry. But I guess that's for the better." She looked to me. "He didn't say anything to you about this?"

"I got what you did, Mandy," I sighed. "Looks like we're going out."

"You may be, but I'm not putting that on. I want to burn it. There's a catch to this, Rachel, I can feel it."

"Oh, I'll bet there is one. But we've got no choice, Mandy. We're in his house, we need to play by his rules."

"You've been saying that ever since I got let out. I can't believe you're seriously rolling over and showing your belly."

"If it's to keep us alive, I'll do whatever the hell I have to. His beef is with me, and Sherlock, not you. You're collateral. I don't want to screw this up and get you hurt. I already did once. Besides, I'm playing the long game. When the right time comes, we make our move."

"What if it never comes? What if Sherlock doesn't find us?"

"He will," I insisted fiercely. "He won't let us die here."

"I hope he's all that he's been cracked up to be," Mandy squeaked. "Because I want to go back home to Taylor."

"I know. I want to be with Bayley just as badly."

"Speaking of, where's the ring?"

I wrung my hands. "I had to show Moriarty how serious I was about the rules. I had to give it up. I almost didn't."

"Rach..."

"It's just a ring anyway."

"No, it's not. It's a piece of you and Bayley, together. You just gave that to the man who nearly killed you and broke your heart!"

"Why do you think he asked for that as his price?" I snapped. "He wants it to hurt! He wants every waking minute here to hurt! He's hurting us in here, and he's hurting the others out there!" I realized I was shaking.

"What has he done to you, Rachel?" Mandy simpered.

"He certainly hasn't broken me." I raised my head. "I won't let him win. We won't let him win. We're going to make him think that he's winning, though. Please, Mandy, I can't do this on my own. This can't be pulled off if we're working against each other. Do you trust me?"

"Of course. You're my best friend."

"Then take this to heart. We have to endure. We've got to suck this up until we're broken out of here, somehow. Okay? Just trust me and listen. I know this man better out of the two of us. I can help us work our way out of this. Unfortunately, it starts by dressing up."

Mandy frowned at my suggestion.

"I'm sure we'll be given the event, time, and place later on. This is just a glimpse of what's to come."

"Knowing him, this won't be a normal event."

"Good, you're catching on."

* * *

It was a very tense limo ride to the event.

Since we were being held I thought it'd be at our place. But what purpose would that serve? It would be hiding in plain sight. But Moriarty's better than that. If there's any risk to ruining his game, he won't take it.

I kept crossing my legs, alternating. Occasionally, I'd feel him rub my arm with a finger. On the opposite side, Mandy was accompanied by the man who tortured her from before. He had a stone-faced expression. He's got to be a high up in Moriarty's ranks. Second-in-command? Just a normal lackey?

"You never did say what this was for," I murmured.

"You don't need to worry about that, Rachel. Just stay close to me, and the night will work out. The same goes for you, Amanda. Don't try anything, either of you."

"I don't think we need the warning," Mandy said calmly, but I heard her undertone of anger. She fondled the mask in her lap. "We know what's going on."

Moriarty hummed. "Mm, you're growing on me. I wouldn't be too jealous, Rachel," he glanced at me, "I've still got my eye for you."

I should feel so special.

When the limo stopped, we filed out. The four of us put on the masks, and we went inside, arm-in-arm with our "dates". The place we were heading up towards was more beautiful than the place we stayed at. The yard was adorned with peacocks and prim lawn-care. We went up the steps and headed inside.

Classical music played over our ears. Like us, the rest of the attendants were dressed formally. Masks adorned their faces.

"Do try to have some fun while we're here, ladies," Moriarty crooned. "This is a party after all." He nodded to his counterpart, who whisked Amanda away, leaving me in Moriarty's company. "Don't speak a word unless I tell you to, all right?"

"What is this place?" We took a slow meander through the crowd. Moriarty grabbed a champagne flute off a nearby walking tray. I snatched it from him and downed it. "You didn't think to grab me one."

"You're lucky I like you."

"Oh, you like me?" I mocked him. "I would've never guessed with all of your threats and blackmail."

Moriarty grabbed another champagne flute, this time keeping it out of arm's reach from me. "I have a funny way of showing how I feel about people. You should know that by now."

"You would think." I saw a group of people waltzing. I had a brief flashback to Sherlock teaching me to dance in 221B, just before Dad's wedding. I was an average student, he had been a bossy teacher. "I guess I'm naïve enough to forget it."

"Don't be so hard on yourself." Moriarty downed the liquid in his flute. He grabbed mine and put both on a tray that was passing by. "Come on, let's dance. Like old times."

I exhaled slowly as he led us out onto the floor. We cut ourselves in, and surprisingly, we kept pace. I tried to purposely step on his feet, but I would always just miss. He must know I'm trying on purpose.

"Doesn't this take you back, Rachel?" he crooned as he spun me.

"To you threatening my life? Absolutely."

"No, to our good times. The takeout, all that time in bed." He winked. I was very tempted to pull his mask away from his face and let it smack him.

"I'm glad we never actually slept together." I snorted. "Would've been the worst mistake of my life."

"You wouldn't see it that way. You're in the presence of a good lover, my dear."

I gagged a little. "I see a psychopath, not a lover. Not a decent man."

"Rachel, I don't want to hurt you. I really don't. I want us to be together. I wanted that for us, until you got too nosy and forced my hand."

I blinked at him in shock. "That wasn't intentional! I kind of wish you'd been cheating on me at that point."

"You're just full of blunt, hurtful words, aren't you?"

"I can't think of nice things to say to you."

"Even though I've got the potential to ruin your life."

"You're not that trigger-happy. You're waiting to see just how far I'll go before you draw the line." I found myself chest-to-chest with him. "Maybe you're right. Maybe on some twisted level, you've got a soft spot for me. Maybe that's why you haven't done more damage. Now, tell me the real reason why we're here. It's not to have fun."

Moriarty pouted. "Well, since you're so nosy...This party is a gathering of some of the most notorious criminals throughout the world."

"And they put you into that category?" I scoffed. "I'll bet they've got a lot over you."

"Aren't you a comedian?" he said sourly. He pulled me closer, snarling at someone over my shoulder. "Try to pickpocket someone else, eh?" I turned my head as a man in a tuxedo scurried off.

"This a place where the worst of the worst come to mingle?"

"'Course. It's almost like meeting your idols, in a sense."

"Let me guess, you're someone's idol?"

"Are you surprised?"

"Yes, yes I am." A thought came to mind. I began to look around for a scarily familiar face. She might be decked out in all white too.

"Looking for someone?"

I swallowed. "Just nerves. It's not every day you're stuck in a place full of criminals. Murderers, rapists, thieves, all of those lovely people."

He chuckled. "You're looking for her, aren't you? Miss Whitehall?"

"Is she here?"

"Perhaps." I felt him shrug. "I guess we'll find out soon, won't we?"

I looked at him. "What did you scheme?"

"If you want to carry out a job, sometimes it's best to do it in plain sight."

And that was when the commotion started.

**Rariarty banter is just <3**