Red Rose

“You’ve been keeping me busy…”

She stepped closer and stopped close with her snake like eyes on yours as she spoke.

“After all the times I’ve helped you…isn’t time we officially work together?”

Red Rose flicked you a gold and black ticket that glistened in the rays of the sun, but not before kissing the back of it first. She turned and walked away with a giggle…always a grin on her face.

“Don’t be late…detective.”

She disappeared around the corner after her charm laced comment fell out of her mouth. You looked again at the ticket she threw you, it was an invitation to a fancy ball, a red mark in the shape of lips were on the end.

She mentioned working together, but despite the clear implication of something like a date it had to be another job. And you do sort of owe her… So you decided to go.

It was night when you arrived, you filtered through groups of people dressed beautifully. Looking around you hadn’t spotted Red Rose anywhere…so you simply sat and played the piano on the stage.

It added music to the already flawless ballroom full of chatter, waiters serving their customers drinks, one asking another to dance. And literally from the top ropes, Red Rose leaped gracefully from the second floor onto the stage. Casually placing herself on the piano you played.

“An enchanting tune. Not dancing to it would be a crime.”

An invitation smoother than a penguin’s flipper.

“You won’t keep me waiting now, will you?”

Her body moved like water into a pose of a woman waiting to be courted. One hand towards you and the other stretched out behind her. The moment you took her hand she dragged you off the stage into the middle of the ballroom, a single spotlight. No one but you two existed in this moment.

As you two danced together, Red Rose led every move as she pinned you softly against a railing, dangerously close to your face.

“Everyone in this ballroom is an imposter, an enemy. Just use that special deduction skill of yours to see for yourself~”

Her lips closed in on your ear while you scanned everyone watching. At first glance they all looked human, but with your eye you catch the slightest hints of what they truly were.

Red Rose slowly clasped her hand into yours and led you back to the middle of the ballroom. Following into a dip where she held you stable. You took her hand from behind with your other hand on her waist and led her instead, tossing her up and landing into you as a cuddle dip, her hand trailing down your cheek.

“Here’s when we work together…”

During the pause, Red Rose suddenly took out her pistol and fired behind while she arched backwards without looking back. A lady fell back into a table. But the lady’s body merely twisted and twitched as she stood up with wings of a harpy.

Then all the guests present tore off their human disguises like Christmas presents, more harpy’s and many werewolves. Red Rose picked herself up and stood against you, back to back.

“Feel free to show off~”

You both got to work. Only the noises of the monsters, gunshots, and Red Rose’s occasional giggles could be heard. Even then, you two still danced around each other as her eyes followed you despite the chaos.

She was definitely agile. Jumping from werewolf to werewolf after loading their heads with lead, then effortlessly shooting down multiple Harpy’s that flew like panicked birds near the ceiling waiting for an opportunity to swoop down.

Then it was quiet. You both pointed your weapons at the other since nothing else was standing. Red Rose’s grin stretched just an inch further as she adjusted her aim and fired a werewolf slowly standing up behind you.

The bodies dissipated into thin air. The spot light above swayed to a stop. And Red Rose held her hand towards you and her other extended away from her body like the first time, a smile brightening on her face.

“I admire your adaptiveness…in battle and in waltz. Would you still pick up a rose knowing it has sharp thorns, detective?”

She waited for you in the same pose.

“One more dance before the police barge in on us?”