My feet slammed against the pavement as I ran down an alley. I'd been given a tip, just a hunch, a rumor even, that a man from another world would appear at the stroke of midnight at Dead Man's Chasm. This was the man I'd been chasing for a year, he knew it, yet he led me on like a dog.
It was a cool spring night and the wind carried the scent of freshly pollinated flowers. The full moon shone brightly as I made my way to my destination. A plain appeared in front of me as I sneaked out from behind a rock. About a hundred meters away, was the deadly drop leading into blackness known as Dead Man's Chasm.
I began to creep forward as my eyes detected the familiar figure floating over the darkness. He was the man whom I hated most at this moment. William DuPont.
He dressed as he always did; a cloak that stopped the wind from chilling his neck. A tall black hat that smushed down his dark raven colored hair. A white long sleeve shirt which on top had a dark striped vest along with matching pants. His shoes were black as well and polished as ever. Clothing certainly not of this era.
I'd have to move quickly, usually he disappears as soon as I arrive. Not disappears as in 'walk-away-you'll-never-find-me' disappear...no. He literally disappears. That man is inhuman, if you blink you'll miss him. Even regarding that fact I'm not scared of him. I has a mission to accomplish, and until then, I won't rest.
Instead of smirking and disappearing he didn't move an inch. I froze, he's up to something. After moments of silence my brows twitched in annoyance and I shouted, "What are you doing?!"
William seemed to snap out of a trance and looked at me longingly, placing his finger to his lips and only saying in reply, "Your soul has grown indeed, my master. More than worthy of being my dinner one day." I bit my lip to stop myself from cursing at his words. That man himself was extremely infuriating.
With a glare I said, "What the hell are you talking about?! What's with this nonsense you've been going on about ever since you've shown your face to me?"
"Nonsense?" William tilted his head to the side and looked at me through blank eyes. I opened my mouth to speak but didn't get a chance as invisible bells rang through the air.
Looking wildly around I mumbled to myself, "What's going on?"
"I am afraid I must take my leave. I will see you soon enough, master." Flipping around I spotted the fading form of William. I huffed, seeing this opportunity start to slip from my grasp only annoyed me more.
My body seemed to move on it's own, I must've been thinking crazy thoughts at the time. I felt my body shoot forward as my feet pushed me towards the fading man. I approached the chasm's edge, felt the rocks ledge dig into my shoes as I jumped, then my outstretched arms firmly wrapped around William's waist. My heart was pounding in my ears but it didn't stop me from seeing the man's for once surprised face. I snickered for I thought it was comical.
William stared me down through his unnaturally orange colored eyes and asked, "What are you-" Whatever he was going to say was cut off, for they both were surrounded in a dark aura fading from the outside world and to someplace hellish.
Dull light poked at my eyelids. What happened? I don't remember falling asleep…Then it all came rushing back. My encounter with William, jumping over the chasm, and-I shivered. That horrid place. Opening my eyes slowly I saw a blanket, gray and gloomy, stretched out across the sky. The clouds were so heavy they looked like they could let loose gallons of rain any second now.
Looking around, it took a second to take in what I saw. Everything and everyone was frozen. I thought they might be wax figures. Dozens of people lined the street wearing strange clothing. The buildings didn't seem to be from my time either, from the looks of it and the weather, I'd have to guess I was in London during the Victorian Era. Which is crazy, because it's 1997. Time travel is impossible.
"Oh but not time travel master, you have brought yourself to a whole nother dimension." My senses went on high alert and I moved my eyes up to a roof across from where I was laying on the stone street.
Immediately I recognized the figure darkened by the gray sky. "William. What is this?" I spat out. Somehow, he jumped off of the roof and landed in front of me perfectly intact. Then again I have to remember this guy can disappear without a trace in seconds, I should be used to him but yet he keeps surprising me.
I glared at him as he took a step forward towards me. William seeing my anger paused, instead of advancing he held out a hand. I scoffed, Is he trying to act like a gentleman now? Without waiting for my answer my wrist was grabbed and I was yanked to my feet. My green eyes widened in surprise, the grip didn't hurt but I had to resist the urge to smack him for touching me.
I stumbled to gain my balance when I landed on my feet. Once I had the hand dropped away like it was never there. William now brushed himself off, height-wise the man or whatever the hell he was stood a head taller. Upon meeting eyes with him I uneasily took a step back. His eyes that were usually a dull orange were now a murky rainbowish color that constantly shifted, and the pupils had gone into catlike slits.
William offered me a smirk that I was used to being given over the past years. Although, now it hinted at something else. I couldn't put my finger on it. In a playful tone he said, "That's for another time, as for now, you might want to duck, master~" My brows furrowed in confusion for I'd never heard him use that tone before. But it was too late when I realized it was something close to a trick when he disappeared, again.
My head snapped around, a curse word or two floating from my mouth. But I wouldn't have much time to think as all of a sudden, a loud whirring sound filled the air. My eyes widened and I grew stiff, what's going on?
"Got yo-" A new voice caused me to spin around, then quickly freeze in my spot. For gliding downwards, silverware aimed at my throat, was a man dressed as a butler. His eyes showed slight shock but immediately he retracted the knives and landed swiftly a few feet in front of me.
Bowing the man said, "My deepest apologies Madame. I mistook you for someone else."
I didn't answer for a moment for I was observing the man. As I processed my final thought-that he was quite handsome-I realized I needed to answer. A blush creeped onto my face and I waved my hands furiously back and forth in front of myself, "No! No! It's alright! It was an accident!"
The man lifted up his face a small smile growing on it, "Yes, an accident."
"Sebastian!" A winded boy rounding the corner drew my attention. The boy wore suspenders with navy blue shorts, a beige T-shirt, and a plaid cap with worn brown sneakers. The strangest thing about him was he bore a black eye patch. In a hand he clutched a gun, to see a child younger than me carry a gun set me on edge. The boy put both of his hands on his knees and attempted to catch his breath.
"So while I was-outrunning DuPont-bullets don't work on him by the way-you were in an alley flirting-with some girl?!" At the last word the boy flew up standing to his full height and glaring at the one known as Sebastian.
My mouth drifted open and I asked a second later, "Wait, you don't mean William DuPont?" The boy eyed me.
"Yes. Why?"
I took a deep breath before answering, "I know him, I just was talking to him a few minutes ago."
The boy raised an eyebrow and glared accusingly at Sebastian saying, "And you didn't sense him?"
Sebastian merely shrugged saying, "He can hide himself well. You say you were chasing him, yet he was having a conversation with this young lady here. Also, why didn't you call me if it was so important?"
The boy huffed, "It wasn't exactly chasing. It was strange, he was there one minute then gone the next." If it was possible the boy seemed to grow more serious as he paused before saying, "We'll finish this conversation later. As for you, you said you know him? And what's your name?" The boy interrogated me.
I chuckled nervously as I thought of the right things to say. "First, the name's Heather. And secondly, it's complicated."
"We have time, don't we Sebastian? I think a few dance lessons can wait."
Sebastian sighed, "Yes Young Master, along with the business meeting that is to be rescheduled, again." At his words the boy just became annoyed and shot an icy glare in the Butler's direction.
"Well," I began, "First time I met William was seven ago, just after my parents died. That bastard appeared out of nowhere…" I grimaced and curled my hands into fists. With a sigh I closed my eyes and calmed my temper. I continued, "He watched as my parents burned alive in a fire. He could've helped, but he chose not to. Later on he swore an oath to me that to this day I still don't understand. He said that as long as he lives no living being shall harm me in any way. And some stupid thing about him eating eating my soul, I swear he's crazy. I blame him for my parents death so I've been chasing him ever since." Silence. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the pair glance at each other.
Sebastian finally spoke breaking the silence. "Heather, I am afraid to tell you but DuPont is a demon. And when he means he'll eat your soul, he is quite literal."