“Young Master Eliot! Young Master Eliot where are you?” Maid Lillian asked as she ran through the halls of the manor. She held her skirt up high, so she wouldn’t trip on it, but she still found her self stumbling while running in the heels she was required to where at all times. If she had lost Young Master Eliot again, Master Pierce would surely be angry. Eliot had to be at the Master’s Ball in an hour, and he was hardly ready. Him and his valet, William, had ran, well more of jumped out of the dressing room before she had the chance to dress them both. With a wink and a smirk Young Master Eliot had opened the window, and jumped out along with William, before Lillian even had a chance to understand what was happening. And now she was running around the manor in search for the two naughty boys.

            She passed a portrait of the Grayson family and continued running through the halls. Behind the photo came a chuckle and then a shush. Clay colored fingers grabbed the edge of the photo and slid it open as golden eyes peeked out. They looked around for a second and then a chuckle came from behind the picture. The photo slid more to reveal a large secret cabinet that had two teenage boys scrunched inside. The one with the golden eyes smiled and then jumped out, the other boy following. The golden eyed boy fixed the goggles on his wavy blond locks that felt out of place on his dark tan skin. He wore a neatly pressed white dress shirt underneath a gold vest. His belt was adorned with gears that spun slowly like the gears in clockwork. The belt held up his baggy trousers that had to be one size too large, somehow though they look very nice on the boy. He placed his hands behind his back as he strolled peacefully down the hallway with his valet by his side.

            “Are you sure this is a good idea Young Master Eliot? Your father will be quite disappointed if you don’t appear at his ball,” The boy’s valet said. He had white curly hair that didn’t go past his ears. His green eyes darted around the hall looking for any maids that might run up and snatch them. If there was one thing he didn’t want, it was to be scolded by the Master because he was listening to the Young Master again. He wore his favorite pair of suspenders over his silver dress shirt. The pants of the suspenders were tight around his legs, but looser around his ankles. Both he and his Young Master were barefoot.

            Eliot Grayson seemed at ease, despite the constant threat of someone finding them and bringing them to his father to be scolded. “Relax William, father will never notice in the chaos,” He proclaimed. “and please, just call me Eliot.”

            “But Young Master, it really isn’t my place…” William stuttered. Eliot rolled his eyes.

            “When its just you and me its fine. Just don’t do it when important people are around okay,” Eliot said. He turned to his valet with a warm smile which surprised William. Eliot loved startling William, so catching him off guard like this was amusing. Just to see his look of shock on his dirt colored face and dark green eyes made Eliot smile even more.

The two continued their stroll through the manor’s halls, somehow going under the radar of the many frantic maids running around the large home. Though maybe the reason the maids couldn’t find them was because Eliot had gotten them lost. He didn’t recognize any of the portraits in the hall and was beginning to panic. He couldn’t let William see him alarmed. To think he had lived in this house for sixteen years and he still hadn’t seen it all. Instead of panicking, he decided to blame William.

“My fault! I was just following you!” William yelled. “Its not my place to lead you in the first place! You’re the master, this is––”

Eliot covered his valet’s mouth with his hand and shushed him. The creaking noise came again. Eliot looked around suspiciously and tried to find a place to hide. He pulled William behind a large banana plant. Two men walked in front them chattering about Pierce Grayson. William began to sniffle and opened his mouth as if to sneeze, but Eliot pinched his nose. Though he didn’t sneeze he made a small hiccup noise. Eliot tried not to laugh at this.

“Did you hear something Henry?” One of the men asked. He had short brown Caesar cut hair and a handlebar mustache. He looked around for another person besides his companion. His top hat had a clock built into it that showed that William and Eliot had thirty five minutes to get prepared for Master Pierce’s ball. His company wore a neatly pressed suit, and had a bit of stubble on his cheeks. His hair was blonde and styled like his friend. Eliot and William got down low and crawled from behind the plant. Eliot couldn’t help but wonder who those men were, and why they were talking so feverishly about his father.

“I didn’t hear––” The man’s companion began, but then noticed the boys sneaking away. “Hey look it’s Pierce’s son.”

Once again, instead of panicking, Eliot blamed William. This time causing William to stutter out monosyllable groans in irritation. The men loomed over the young heir and his valet. “William! Carry me back to the dressing room!” Eliot ordered.

“Oh no, you two aren’t running away from us,” The man with the mustache said as he grabbed William by his collar and pulled him into the air. Eliot quickly got to his feet, but before he could get very far, the other man grabbed him by shirt as well.

Eliot struggled for freedom by kicking his legs and flinging his arms. “Unhand me! If my father hears that you’re handling me this way, he’ll have the Queen chop your heads off and put them as her mantle piece!” Eliot yelled.

“He talks big, like Pierce used to do,” The man with the mustache hissed. He noticed Eliot and William smiling and snarled. “And just what are you too smiling at?”

“Jonas, Henry, how are you two this evening?” A blonde man asked. He looked like a taller and older Eliot, despite the fact that his eyes were hidden underneath a black fedora with steaming pipes on the brim. “Eliot, William, the dressing room is down the hall, to your right. If the both of you aren’t dressed in ten minutes you’ll be locked in your rooms for a week.”

The teenage boys wiggled out the men’s grasp and ran down the hall, leaving Pierce Grayson with the two men.

 

Eliot kept still as he was dressed by Lillian. She raised his arms for her young master as she put on his gold tailcoat for him. Some part of him felt the need to apologize to Lillian, but the other part thoroughly enjoyed hearing her grumble to herself. As only a maid, she had no place to speak.

In the corner of the room was William, he was already dressed, seeing as though he didn’t have to look like polished gold. He sat calmly and politely, watching his Young Master being dressed. His white curls were pulled back with a ribbon, and he wore a black vest over a white dress shirt. “You don’t have to watch me be groomed William, you can go explore or something,” Eliot proclaimed.

“No thank you Young Master, I’m quite content waiting for you to finish,” William said.

Eliot rolled his eyes, but Maid Lillian turned to William with a smile. She placed a hand over her heart adoringly, and fluttered her eyelashes at the young boy. “You are just the sweetest thing William. And such a looker already,” She said. William smiled a bit.

“Thank you Lillian,” William said.

Eliot’s eye narrowed annoyed. “William, have you washed your face yet?” He asked.

“I––” William began.

“Go wash it. What would people think of me if my valet is dirty. They’ll think I don’t take care of you,” Eliot proclaimed. He flicked his wrist at William, telling him to shoo. William tried his best not to look annoyed as he left the room. Eliot sighed as Lillian finished putting on his satin puff tie.

“Young Master if I may ask something,” Lillian said.

“You may,” Eliot said as he pulled on a white glove.

“Why are you so rude to William?” She asked as she stood up and dusted off her dress. Eliot glared at her with his sharp gold eyes, that could easily cut into someone’s soul. Lillian looked calm despite the fact that she had angered her Young Master. Adeline’s golden glare never scared her, so why would her son’s worry her.

Eliot pulled on the other glove and said, “I could get you fired for that question,” Eliot said. “But if you must know, I am not rude to William. I simply don’t want him to be dirty. This is a very important ball and he should at least look like polished silver.”

Lillian smiled. “You act as though he is your little brother, it’s very sweet,” Lillian proclaimed. Eliot snorted.

“It’s a nuisance,” Eliot proclaimed, but his smile said otherwise. “But in a way, it is kind of like he is my little brother. Even as his Master, I still feel like I should be taking care of him, instead of the other way around.”

“Why do you think that is?” Lillian asked.

Eliot shrugged. “I’ve always thought of William that way, since I found him on Lochlyn Beach,” He said. “It was over a decade ago, but whenever I look at him, I keep seeing the five year old boy with the large green eyes and the toothless smile. I don’t like thinking of him as the William he is now. It just means that one of these days, he’s gonna leave me like everyone else.”

Lillian opened her mouth to say something. “That’s enough. I talk too much. Please go fetch William for me Lillian,” Eliot said. Lillian bowed to her Young Master and then left the room, leaving Eliot alone. Alone like he was when he heard the news.

“Young Master, Madam Adeline, she’s been kidnapped. Master Pierce is doing his best to find her,” William said. Eliot’s hands quivered as he closed his book. He tried not to look sad, not in front of William. “Is Young Master okay?”

            William reached out to Eliot, but he smacked his hand away. “And why is it that my father couldn’t tell me this himself?” Eliot asked, looking at William from the corner of his eye. William backed away from Eliot, afraid of his deadly gold eyes.

            “Master Pierce is busy trying to find Young Master’s mother,” William explained. Eliot put his book on the arm of his chair and sighed.

            “Very well then,” Eliot proclaimed. “William when was the last time you had a day off?”

            “I don’t need a day off Young Master,” William proclaimed with a very sincere smile. “I’m alright staying with you until we find your mother. I promised Master that I would forever stay by your side. This is a time when you’re gonna need me the most.”

            Eliot grimaced. “Well then, go ask Gertrude to make me something to eat,” Eliot said. William’s smiled turned to a face of confusion. He bowed to his Young Master. He turned and left the room, leaving Eliot alone…like he wanted to be. 

           

Eliot strolled in front of William down the hall to the ballroom. Eliot with his hands in his pockets, and William with his hands behind his back. Eliot suddenly stopped walking. William stopped, remembering to always stay a few paces behind Eliot. “Young Master?” William asked.

“I thought I told you to call me Eliot?” Eliot asked. William raised his eyebrows confused. “I want you to walk beside me William.”

“But Young Master––” William began. 

“That’s an order,” Eliot said interrupting one of William’s rants about how it wasn’t his place and other things that Eliot would zone out of. William usually lost Eliot around “it’s not my place”. William scurried to Eliot’s side, and the young Duke and his valet continued their stroll to the ballroom.

Pierce left his room as if fleeing a war. After letting out a breath of relief, he noticed the boys staring at him. He tipped his hat at the boys. “Oh I see you guys got ready in ten minutes. Good job,” He said. “And you look nice for once.”

He then noticed Eliot’s pocket watch dangling from his neck like a necklace. “Eliot, what did I say about wearing your pocket watch around your neck?” Pierce asked.

“You said I could, and that it was totally okay,” Eliot said. Pierce held his hand out for the pocket watch, as Eliot sighed. He pulled his pocket watch over his neck and put it in his father’s hand. Pierce pulled off his hat, looking down so that his eyes were covered, and put Eliot’s pocket watch in his hat. He then pulled the hat back on, somehow keeping his eyes concealed the whole time.

“I’ll be keeping this until after the ball, and Eliot, please try to enjoy yourself this time,” Pierce said. He walked away from the boys.

Later....

“Young Master Eliot!” William yelled as Eliot stared wide eyed at his dead father. William ran back to him and tugged his arm. “Young Master Eliot! We have to go now! They’re here to kill you too!” William yelled.

Eliot remained where he stood, his gold eyes still wide in horror. William tugged his arm harder, but Eliot pulled out of his grasp. “My father,” He whispered.

“You’re father is dead and there’s nothing you can do about it! Let’s go!” William snarled. He turned Eliot away from the now deceased Pierce Grayson and pulled him towards one of the Grayson manor’s secret exits. Eliot took one last glance at Pierce as William took the portrait of Eliot off the wall and helped his young master into the passageway. Before he could get far, he realized he was missing an important accessory. “William! My pocket watch! My father put the pocket watch in his hat!” Eliot said, alarmed.

William sighed and ran back into the chaos of screaming women and men. It was a bloody massacre all around and he had to go retrieve a pocket watch? The maids bumped into him as he ran to recover Young Master Eliot’s most prized possession.

He found Master Pierce’s body and sprinted over, but was blocked by one of the murders. “What do you think you’re doing little boy?” He asked. His voice sounded so familiar, like someone he had heard speak earlier today, but the man’s face slipped him. He reached for William, but the boy maneuvered around him and closer to his Master’s body. He was tackled to the ground beside Pierce, and flipped onto his back. The murderer raised his blade in the air above William’s heart. “You’ll let out a nice scream for me, won’t you little boy?” He asked.

The blade came down, just as William slid through the man legs. He rolled back onto his knees and crawled towards Pierce. He reached for his hat, but the blade came down on his wrist. The pain took a while to hit William, but as soon as he felt it he was screaming in agony. “Such a gorgeous wail you have!” The man laughed. Blood poured from William’s hand, but he kept crawling towards Pierce. If he was going to die, he was going to die for Eliot. “I will do anything for my master! Even if he asks me to die, I will gladly take a blade and end my life for him!”

He grabbed Pierce’s fedora and got a look at his eyes. They were hazel, the rarest color of them all, no wonder he always hid them underneath the brim of his hat. William struggled to get to his feet with one as the murderer sliced at him again, across his chest, tearing William’s shirt and vest. William ran back to Eliot, the man still on his tail. “Why are you running little boy! I just wanna hear you scream for me!” The man guffawed, swinging at the air in front of him. The young valet held Pierce’s hat under his arm. He was so close to Eliot, just a few more feet and he was safe.

Finally he was at the wall. He handed his young master the hat and jumped in just as the man got to the entryway. He grabbed William’s foot, as he cackled like a maniac. “William!” Eliot yelled.

“Young Master, I assure you I’ll be fine. Keep going!” William growled, kicking his offender’s face to try to make him loosen his grip on his ankle.

“I can’t go on alone! First father, now you?” Eliot said.

William turned to him with fuming green eyes. “Go!” He hissed. Eliot quickly crawled away. He had never seen William so angry. William continued to kick the man in the face.

“Come on little boy, just one loud and good scream!” He pleaded. William pulled his leg back and delivered a hard blow to the man’s face, breaking his nose and causing him to stumble backwards. He quickly grabbed the cement door before the man could regain his balance. He twisted the lock tight and crawled into darkness after Eliot.

At the end of the tunnel waited Eliot. The light from the outside world poured onto him as he examined his father’s hat. “We can leave the tunnel whenever you like Young Master,” William said.

“You took his hat,” Eliot said, “when I asked for the pocket watch.”

“As I recall, the pocket watch was in the hat,” William said. Eliot violently slapped him hard across the cheek, enough to turn William’s face away from him. The white haired boy blinked, surprised by his master’s sudden burst of violence.

Eliot growled like a lion as he clenched the hat close to his chest. “I wanted to leave him as he lived! To take away a piece of him without my permission is unforgivable!” Eliot yelled. William turned back towards Eliot, his intact hand to his cheek.

“I apologize for my recklessness Young Master,” William said sincerely.

            “His eyes,” Eliot mumbled. “Did you see his eye color?”

            William looked confused, but nodded. “Yes Young Master, they were hazel,” William answered. Eliot put his face in his knees.

            “And what about your hand. We must find a doctor for you right away, before it becomes infected,” Eliot mumbled.

            “Yes Young Master,” William said.

            “I’m Master of nothing. My family’s dukedom is destroyed,” Eliot hissed. “So please William, just call me Eliot.”

            William nodded. Eliot took his pocket watch from inside the hat, and stuffed in into his pocket. He put his father’s hat on his head and tipped it so his eyes were still visible. “I suppose you’re hand will need to be wrapped up,” Eliot sighed. He ripped the hem of his pants and used the fabric to wrap around William’s bleeding wrist. “There, now let’s go find Dr. Dexter. He can probably fix you.” 

A little later, William passed out on the way to the doctor's office, loss of blood perhaps.           

“Uncle Dexter? Some guys came and got him a while ago, but if all you need is to be treated, I can do it for you,” The boy said. Eliot had zoned out on what he was saying, his gaze solely on his the boy’s different colored eyes. The right eye was a light blue and the left eye was a dark gray. The boy waved his hand in front of Eliot’s face. “Did you hear me?” He asked.

            “You’re eyes,” Eliot mumbled.

            “Heterochromia iridum, it’s a difference in melanin amounts in the eyes. Its pretty infrequent in humans, that’s why I’m awesome,” The boy said. “Anyways, want me to fix him up or not?”

            “Yes please!” Eliot said with a bright grin. “I’m Eliot by the way, that’s William.”

            “I’m Braxton,” The boy said. He scratched his black hair as he examined the unconscious William. “What happened to him? Did he get in a street fight? Green eyes aren’t as rare as hazel ones, but they’re still pretty valuable.”

            “Yeah it was a street fight,” Eliot said. It was none of Braxton’s business to know about the ball and the deaths of so many people. It would probably be in the news soon anyways. Braxton ripped open William’s shirt and examined the large cut cross his chest. He grimaced as if the cut was the worst thing he had ever seen.

            “That’s pretty deep…he’s gonna need stitches,” Braxton proclaimed. He reached over William for a tub of liquid that he poured into the large gash. This caused William to stir a little. “Hmm…must have stung. I wouldn’t know, I’ve never put this stuff in a cut.”

            “Then why are you doing it!” Eliot yelled fearfully. Was he really trusting this teenage quack with William’s life?

            Braxton shrugged as a response and continued William’s treatment. He grabbed some clear thread and began to lead it towards William’s cut. “Actually, if he can feel pain, you might want to hold his hand or something. Getting stitches hurts if he’s not under. I don’t want to put anesthesia in him when he’s unconscious, because he might not wake up.”

            Eliot reluctantly grabbed William’s intact hand. Braxton threaded the suture into William’s cut. Being as whiny as he was, William squeezed Eliot’s hand with a death grip, causing Eliot to squeal in pain. Braxton’s face grew a sadistic grin and continued weaving the needle in and out of William’s skin, sealing it tight. He patted William’s chest. “Well that part’s good. What do you want me to do with his hand?” Braxton asked. “I have an artificial one he can try. It works like clockwork, very smooth and sleek. Acts just like a real hand.”

            “I don’t know. William won’t like it if I decide things for him without permission,” Eliot said.

            “Okay then, I’m sure anyone would prefer to be handless than have a better artificial hand,” Braxton sighed.

            “How quickly can you get it on him?” Eliot asked.

A few days later they meet this girl named Artemis Sherwood and save her from getting arrested, though she's dressed as a boy at the time, but William finds out she's a girl (accidently catches her changing...). She's a duchess, and she gets the boys, Eliot, Braxton, and William to let her stay. Then they meet Liam Thurston, the Prince of Celestial Kingdom, who orders them to let him join. 
Later...

            “Eliot. I request William as my valet for the night,” Artemis proclaimed. She walked out in a short  blue dress with a large white bustle around it. William blushed at the gorgeous sight of feminine Artemis. Braxton finished tying Artemis’ corset for her and then stood up, dressed in an unfamiliar suit and tie. He continued to fix it, and tugged at it uncomfortably.

            “I…I couldn’t…I am young master’s valet. I must accompany him to the ball,” William interjected.

            “Eliot’s dukedom has been destroyed. He is no longer worthy to go to royal balls and parties,” Artemis said as she smoothed the wrinkles down on her dress. William’s blush grew larger while watching Artemis move so sensually. Eliot rolled his eyes, William was so incapable of anything. “Braxton, would you be so kind and tie my ribbons up my leg.”

            Braxton bent onto one knee and crisscrossed the heel’s ribbons up Artemis’s smooth coffee color skinned. “My lady Artemis, I hate to be rude, but my young master…” William began defensively.

            “She’s right. The Grayson dukedom was supposed to be wiped out. If I’m recognized, those soldiers will swarm the place. It’s best if you go with Artemis,” Eliot said. He then winked at William, causing the already nervous valet to flinch. “I’m sure you two will take great care of each other.”

            William began to stutter in disapproval as Artemis curtsied to Eliot. Eliot bowed in return.

            William kept close to Artemis as she chatted lightheartedly with all the other Duchesses and Dukes. It was nothing like attending a ball with Eliot, who was antisocial, and usually sat in the corner drinking champagne. Being surrounded by so many people of royalty like this almost frightened William.

            “Artemis Sherwood!” A girl yelled as Artemis and William both turned their heads to see a ginger girl running towards them. Artemis smiled at the girl, but it was clear she was heading towards William. She grabbed his chubby cheeks and shook his head. Her pink colored eyes were extremely rare, probably more valuable then his green ones. If Braxton was here he might be contemplating the way he would look with a blue eye and a pink one. “You’re valet! He’s so handsome! Where did you get him, I want one!”

            William had never been touched this way. He was really starting to miss Eliot. No one ever came to grab his cheeks when he was Eliot’s valet. The girl wouldn’t let go of him, and he was beginning to feel his cheeks bruise. He looked at Artemis with frightened green eyes. The young duchess grabbed her large bustle and curtsied. “Evening Evelyn. I must kindly ask you to leave William’s cheeks alone. Any longer and he won’t be as handsome,” Artemis said with a kind smile.

            “Oh of course!” Evelyn giggled. She grabbed the front of her dress with a friendly smile. “We wouldn’t want that now, would we?”

            “We sure would not,” Artemis said as she placed her arms behind her back. “William, would you be so kind to fetch Ms. Ashworth and I some refreshments?”

            William eyed Evelyn than Artemis. He bowed. “Of course milady,” He said. He tried not to appear as though he was running away from the two.

At the refreshment table was Braxton. He stared at the champagne glass as if it was a new invention and he had to learn how to use it. William sighed, finally catching Braxton’s attention. The odd boy smiled brightly at William, his two different colored eyes glistening in happiness. Before he could exclaim William’s name like he usually did when he saw the white haired boy, William interrupted him.

“Do you know nothing of being a valet. You’re not supposed to do as you please. You have to be by your master’s side at all times,” William scolded. He took his occupation very seriously, and to see Braxton treat it so horribly was disgusting.

“Relax, Liam told me to stay here. Some girl came up to him and you know how he likes to flirt in privacy,” Braxton said, “And if staying with your master is so important, why aren’t you with Artemis.”

“Milady––” William began as a large sadistic grin grew on Braxton’s face. Realizing the source of the malevolent smile, William stopped and corrected himself. “I mean…Artemis, asked me to get her and a friend some refreshments.”

“Is that? Little screamer boy?” A man asked. His voice sent chills through William. You’ll let out a nice scream for me, won’t you little boy? His chest stung and his hand burned with almost the same amount of pain he felt when it was sliced off. He hoped and pleaded that it wasn’t the same insane psychopath who cut off his hand, and helped plan the Grayson Ball massacre. Braxton stared at him questioningly, as he gripped his chest in horror. He turned slowly, hand to his rapidly beating heart.

The man wore a grin that could have cut glass. It was him, the same spiky blond hair and blue eyes. Even his nose was still broken from William’s forceful kicks to the face. His crazed smile as he brought the blade down on William flashed through the boy’s mind. The man took a step towards William, but Braxton jumped in front of his comrade. The man stopped with a similar questioning face as Braxton would give, and then slowly, a hysterical smile grew on his face, that even scared Braxton. “I’m sorry sir, but my friend doesn’t know you, so if you could keep walking that would be great,” Braxton said, glaring threateningly at William’s previous attacker.

The man grabbed Braxton and threw him out of his path, knocking the boy out, as his head harshly hit the ground. He walked closer to William, who was frozen in fear. “I still haven’t heard my scream little boy,” The man hissed as he grabbed William by the jaw and leaned down so their noses were only centimeters apart. He flicked out a knife and gently ran it around William’s eyes as William gripped the table behind him in horror. “Should we start with your eyes? A pair of green ones oughta get me a few million.”

“Braxton,” William whispered, as the raven haired boy sat up and rubbed his head.

“I should at least tell you my name before I kill you. I think that’s fair enough…agreed?” The man asked. William gulped. “I’m Henry Richards. What’s your name little boy.”

“William Hamilton,” William gasped as the man moved his hand down to William’s neck and lightly squeezed. William couldn’t help but wonder how no one was noticing this. Braxton was slowly getting up, gripping his head in pain as he glared at Henry.

Henry’s grin was still very much on his face, and still upsetting William. He shivered as Henry ran his knife down William’s cheek. “So, your choice William. Your eyes, your mouth, or…Oh I know! Let’s cut out your heart. That would make you shriek out a very nice wail,” Henry laughed as he cut a heart into William’s suit, causing William to squeal a bit in pain.

Braxton hit him on the back of the head with his champagne bottle, that shattered on the impact with Henry’s head. Henry growled and stabbed his knife into Braxton’s abdomen, who cried out in agony, and finally got the attention of the crowd. Henry pulled his dagger out of Braxton, laughing. He turned to William with a psychotic simper. “You see that Will, that’s a nice scream!”

William watched as chaos unfolded just like at the Grayson’s ball. It was happening the exact same way. Someone got stabbed, people start talking and then…The windows burst as Sebastian’s soldiers came in cackling. William cursed as he grabbed Braxton and wrapped his friend’s arm around his shoulder. He half dragged Braxton through the party, calling for Artemis. The already frightened valet watched as blood trickled between Braxton’s fingers, and began to panic. If they didn’t get out, Eliot would have to face the revolution alone, and he couldn’t handle something like that on his own.

“Hey Will! Where are you? I’m not done with you and your friend yet!” Henry yelled.

William looked around through the chaos for Artemis and Liam, but with all the running and screaming people it was impossible. Already dead bodies littered the floor, both men and women. William accidentally stepped on one and foolishly looked down. It was Artemis’ friend Evelyn. Blood stained her face and dress. Her rose pink eyes were wide open with a look of terror, as if she hadn’t seen her attack coming. William gagged just looking at the gore. What if the next bodies he saw were Artemis and Liam?

A hand grabbed him by the back of the neck and lifted him into the air. He gagged and gasped for breath, dropping Braxton in his desperate attempt for freedom. “How rude it was of you to run off like that. I didn’t give you permission to leave me Will,” Henry said. Did that smile ever leave his face? William kicked the air, trying to land a blow on Henry’s stomach, but couldn’t. Braxton stumbled to his feet. He ran to Henry and punched him, making him drop William. He grabbed the dizzy and stumbling Braxton and ran through the crowd, Henry close behind. This man was obsessed with him!

He ran to the top up the steps, and looked around the party for Artemis and Liam from the loft. Henry was coming up the steps. William searched his pants for his pistol, but couldn’t find it anywhere. “William, you’re hand,” Braxton whispered, as William turned to him in surprise. He coughed a little. “You’re hand turns into a gun.”

“What? How?” William asked. He banged on his clockwork hand causing it to morph into all kinds of weapons. Henry was only two steps away as William banged on it harder. Finally the bronze hand turned into a pistol. William pointed it towards Henry, and shot the gun twice, once hitting his shoulder, the other hitting his waist. Henry lost his balance and tumbled down the stairs, giving William more time to find Artemis and Liam.

He spotted the Prince and Duchess in the middle of the room. Liam fought off the soldiers with his claymore, and Artemis was using her sharp metal stilettos as knives, kicking her attackers in the gut. William couldn’t help but be smitten with her strength. “Artemis! Liam!” He yelled. He momentarily got their attention before they went back to fighting off their enemy.

Liam grabbed Artemis, pushed through the soldiers, and ran for the grand staircase, just as Henry was getting back onto his feet. William grimaced, this guy just wouldn’t give up. When Artemis and Liam got to the top, Henry was halfway up. William watched horrified as this man got closer and closer. “Let’s get out of here,” He said, grabbing Braxton.

He, Artemis, and Liam ran out of the grand mansion and to their carriage, only to see their automaton horses were gone. Henry burst through the grandiose door, adding more stress to the situation. “William!” He yelled.

“Who’s that?” Liam asked.

“The creep who cut my hand off,” William hissed. He handed Braxton to Liam. “I’m gonna find some replacement horses. Get in the carriage and lock the doors.”

Liam and Artemis nodded and ran for the carriage as William ran around looking for new automaton horses. Henry was slowly lumbering down the steps, his dagger ready. He mouthed William’s name, sending shivers through the boy. There had to be some horses somewhere! He heard a steamy neigh and turned his head to see Braxton’s mechanic horses, Tick and Tock. He sighed with relief and led them over to the carriage. He couldn’t tie them up quick enough, Henry was already coming at the carriage. William smacked Tock, causing the horse to neigh and run off without him. Artemis and Liam looked out the window. “William!” Artemis yelled.

“I’ll be okay!” William shouted, but his words were put into question when Henry punched him to the ground.

“I’m gonna kill you Will! And you’re gonna scream for me!” Henry yelled hysterically, as he stabbed William in the shoulder. William hissed in torment, as he tried to push Henry off of him. He punched his aggressor in the face with his bronze hand, but that did nothing.

He turned his head and saw Tick and Tock coming his way, and Artemis at the reins of the carriage. “William!” She yelled, as she extended her hand out on the side of the carriage. William grabbed on as Artemis pulled him onto the seat. She scooted over and allowed him control of the reins. He turned the horses around in a sharp u-turn and took off. Somehow Henry had gotten on and grabbed William by the leg, laughing like a maniac. William repeatedly kicked him in the gut, almost losing control of the carriage.

“Just like your father…” Henry whispered, as he willingly let go of William and fell onto the road. William stared at him in awe as the blonde man rolled and then stopped himself. He stood up and smiled at William. The snow white haired boy panted in horror as his eyes went back to the road. My father? He thought to himself.

Artemis held one of his quivering hands in her gloved ones. “William? Are you okay?” She asked. William shook his head as he leaned back in his seat. No he was not okay. That psychopath was still alive and loose. At anytime Will could run into him again, and what if Artemis, Eliot, Braxton, and Liam weren’t there to help him? Plus he knew things about Arthur Hamilton. Did that mean his father used to be apart of Sebastian’s revolution. Was that why he left?

Artemis kissed him on the cheek and patted his hand. “It’s okay,” She said, but this did nothing to comfort William. He didn’t even blush when she kissed him, he was like a statue, only moving to breath and blink. “William, you’re shoulder,” Artemis said, examining the stab wound that Henry had given William earlier. She lightly touched his arm, but he shouldered her off.

“Please don’t Artemis. I’m just…overwhelmed right now okay,” He mumbled. Artemis blinked at him in awe. Was this even William?

There was an air of awkwardness when Artemis and William walked through the door first. The two quickly went their separate ways. Artemis plopping on the couch beside Eliot, and William leaning against the wall on the opposite side of the room. Eliot was about to ask if something happened, when Liam walked in with Braxton. who had fabric from his jacket used as gauze to stop his bleeding. “What happened to you?” Eliot asked worriedly.

“I got stabbed in the abdomen,” Braxton said as he slid down the wall near the door. He panted as if forty five seconds of walking had tired him out. “Liam go get my medicine kit from my room. It’s in the chest.”

Liam left the room, walking to Braxton’s room nonchalantly. “I hate him,” Braxton hissed. “I’m dying and he’s walking to save me.”

Now Eliot and Braxton were in a very awkward aired room. Braxton looked at Eliot confused, and Eliot looked at Braxton confused. Braxton looked around, and Eliot, whistling and kicking his legs, patiently waited for Liam to get back and even out the air. “So…” Eliot mumbled, “Was it fun?”

William snorted. “Please excuse me for my rudeness Young Master, but how could the party possibly be fun if Braxton and I got seriously injured?” William asked.

“Actually,” Braxton said, “I was rather enjoying it until that bit. The wine tasted good at least.”

Eliot smiled at Braxton’s optimistic attitude, contrasting to Artemis’ and William’s angry moods. “So uh…” Eliot began again. “See any familiar faces.”

This struck a nerve in William, his eyes widening in shock at the memory of Henry whispering those words, “Just like your father…”. “Why yes, actually we did. William met up with a strange man with a queer liking for him. He says the man cut his hand off,” Artemis said, sitting up straight and proud.

Eliot looked at William with surprise as William stared at the ground, remembering the ball. “Him? He was there?” Eliot asked. William began to quiver and ran his hands through his hair.

“I can still feel it, I still feel his blade,” William muttered. He began to hyperventilate. Eliot rushed over to him and grabbed his wrists.

“William, its okay,” He said. William looked at his metallic hand in horror as the moment Henry cut his hand off replayed in his head, until it felt like his chest and hand were on fire. He shut his eyes tightly. “William, look at me.”

William shook his head. “Make it stop Eliot! You can’t let him hurt me again!” William cried as he quivered more fiercely. Tears were falling from his eyes like waterfalls. They rolled down his face and dribbled down his chin. “I can’t keep this pain bottled up anymore!”

Braxton and Artemis watched in awe as William broke down. Artemis stood up and turned to leave. “Where you going Princess?” Braxton asked.

“I can’t watch this,” Artemis replied as she climbed up the stairs and disappeared into her room. Braxton sighed as he turned back towards to the master and his valet. Eliot had sat William down on the chair. The loyal servant had calmed down, and was now nervously drinking from a cup of tea Eliot poured for him. 

later that night...

            “Lady Artemis, I…” William stuttered, but his lips were already on Artemis’ again. The girl straddled William. The only thought running through William’s mind was how wrong this was going to be when Eliot found out, and how much pain Braxton was going to enforce on him later. But he liked the adrenaline. 

            “Sup!” Eliot yelled as he squeezed between the two and wrapped his arms around their shoulders. “How’s my favorite valet and girl doing? You guys care to explain that act of affection I just witnessed?”

            William began to stutter as he tried to search for words. It was extremely hard to do with Eliot’s golden eyes scratching at his very being. He grabbed Eliot’s leg loyally and began to sob, just like five year old William used to do. Eliot smiled proudly at his ability to make William snivel like a baby. “I’m so sorry Young Master! I…I…I couldn’t help myself! Will you ever forgive me! I’m so, so sorry Young Master Eliot! Please, please, please forgive my insolence!” William bawled. Artemis rolled her eyes, even she found William pathetic. At the end of the day, William would always be Eliot’s property.

            “Good night Artemis! William and I are going to bed,” Eliot said a little too merrily. He skipped away despite William still hugging his leg devotedly.

            When they left the room Eliot laughed. “Quite an eventful night you’re having William. First the ball, and now you and Artemis,” He chuckled. “Doesn’t matter though. I know you’ll always be mine.”  

A few months later
           
William leaned against the cart pushing it slowly, as he looked around for the products he needed. The three outrageous teenagers around him were irritating him to no end. Liam rode inside the cart, ordering William to push the cart faster and into the fruit aisle. William, of course, ignored him. “William, let’s get some lollipops!” Braxton exclaimed as he climbed over one of the shelves to throw in a box of lollipops. Before it could go into the cart, William caught it and threw it at Braxton’s face, knocking the boy off the shelf.

            Somehow though, Braxton reappeared and threw a box of truffles into the cart. “Then let’s get some truffles,” Braxton proclaimed. William took them out of the cart and put them back on the shelf, only to see them back in the cart, along with the lollipops, when he looked back down.

            He hissed when he realized, there was a lot more things in the cart then there was originally. “You guys are like shopping with children. How did all this get in here?” He asked. Braxton tossed a box of candy canes into the cart. William gave up, and blew out a breath of annoyance. “At least Artemis isn’t doing––”

            Artemis was about to put a box of tortellini noodles in the cart, but stopped when she noticed William glaring at her. “Liam told me to do it!” Artemis yelled as she pointed accusingly at the prince, while slyly still throwing the box into the cart.

            “How dare ye peasant! I said no such thing!” Liam shouted as he grabbed a box of chocolates and put them beside him.

William sighed and rubbed his sinuses in exasperation. He should have snuck out instead of asking if the rest of the group wanted to join him. He learned his lesson, he was never taking Liam, Braxton, and Artemis shopping again. “You guys do know we’re only in here to get ingredients for dinner,” William said.

“Can we have pasta for dinner?” Artemis asked.

“We are having chicken, and that is final!” William yelled. “Are any of you listening to me at all!”

“Oo! Oo! William, let’s get some turkey! Let’s have roasted turkey for dinner!” Liam said.

“Do I look like the royal chef to you? I don’t know how to cook that,” William asked. He was on the verge of hurting all three of them. He sighed, getting angry would only make things worse. “Whatever, get what you want. I’m not paying for it.”

The three teenagers cheered as they ran off to fetch the food of their likings.

Meanwhile

Eliot fell to his knees in front of Sebastian, who stared down at Eliot from his throne as if he was scum. Eliot looked up at him with a glare. Sebastian smiled when seeing Eliot’s angered face. He chuckled to himself. “My, oh my, when you look at me like that Eliot, why you’re the spitting image of Pierce…except with Adeline’s eyes,” The man said.

Something about Sebastian just hissed demon and evil to Eliot, especially with his glowing red eyes. Though they were probably more rare than his gold ones, they weren’t the kind of eyes you would want to steal. Even his short black hair made him appear more devilish. His grin looked maniacal as well, with sharp pointed canines.

“You don’t look anything like her though. You’re clearly Pierce’s son,” Sebastian added. “So oblivious and foolish….just like him. That’s why he died.”

The memory of seeing the eyes of the man who killed his father flashed through Eliot’s mind. Red eyes…just like. “You killed him didn’t you! You’re the one who killed my father!” Eliot yelled, “but why? What did he do to you?”

Sebastian examined his hand like what Eliot was saying bored him. “Why, didn’t you know Eliot? I killed him because he doubted his best friend,” Sebastian answered with a diabolical smile.

Eliot’s golden eyes widened in awe. “Best. Friends?” He mumbled to himself. Sebastian laughed.

“Oh indeed! Best friends from childhood. We didn’t exactly have the same tastes in things though. We both had a strong liking of your mother Eliot,” Sebastian chuckled, “such a pretty girl she was…and such a gorgeous women she is.”

“Is?” Eliot asked. “She’s alive?”

“Oh yeah very much. I kidnapped her, so why would I kill her?” Sebastian stated.

“Why are you telling me all this?” Eliot asked, “bad guys are supposed to be afraid of having their plan found out.”

“Did your dad tell you about you’re powers?” Sebastian said, changing the subject.

“What powers?” Eliot asked, oblivious to the fact that Sebastian had changed the subject. Of course being Eliot a large grin grew on his face as he childishly exclaimed, “You mean I’m a superhero!”

Sebastian made a face of disgust. Eliot was grossly too much like his father. It was like reliving his childhood again. Sebastian! Can I be a superhero like you too! Pierce was just as stupid as his son was. If only Pierce had stayed stupid, the revolution would have been done a long time ago.

 A few months later. They met a girl named Jessamine who's stupid as a brick. Now Liam is in a sticky situation.           

            “You’re illegitimate Liam, none of you are rightful heir to the throne,” Caleb said angrily. “All because my sister’s stupid. I am the rightful heir to the kingdom.”

            “Illegitimate?” Liam mumbled. “No! That’s not true, my father…”

            “Has caught your mother having an affair many times, though a royal divorce would only make the revolution stronger, he stayed with her,” Caleb proclaimed evilly.

            “SHUT UP! STOP LYING TO ME! I AM THE RIGHTFUL HEIR TO CELESTIAL KINGDOM!” Liam yelled, “my father has no power, so illegitimate or not, as my mother’s son I am next in line.”

            “Not if you die,” Caleb chuckled as he smirked. Liam’s eyes widened in shock. “Guards!”

            “Wait, no! Uncle Caleb!” Liam yelled as guards stormed into the throne room. Liam was grabbed and forced to the ground. He looked up to see his mother watching from the balcony. “Mom! Mom make him stop!”

            Gwendolyn only stared down blankly. “MOM!” Liam yelled. He saw his little sisters staring down at him in fear. “Sharon! Cassandra! Alice! Teresa! Please! Do something! Get father!”

            “Mommy says you’re gonna be okay Liam,” Sharon said shyly.

            “And mommy’s always right,” Cassandra added as she gripped her mother’s dress. Gwendolyn stroked her youngest daughter’s head with a smile.

            “That’s right, mommy’s always right,” Gwendolyn said with a smirk.

            Liam looked up at his family in horror. Was this really happening? Was he really going to die with his little sisters watching? He struggled harder as the guards put his head to the ground. “Say Liam, have you ever heard the queen of hearts song?” Caleb asked. Liam’s eyes widened in horror.

            “The queen of hearts made some tarts on a hot, hot summer’s day,” Teresa sang.

            Her sisters began to sing along in the eerie tune. “The knave of hearts ate these tarts, and the queen said, off with his head!”

            “No!” Liam yelled as a guard lifted his sword in the air over his neck. A gunshot filled the room, as the sword fell in front of his him. The guard that had held the sword fell dead as Liam turned as much as he could to see the shooter. It was Braxton, a smoking gun in his hand.

            “Let him go,” He ordered.

            “What are you going to do boy? There’s only one of you and I have twenty guards,” Caleb chuckled.

            “Yeah well, I have William and Artemis,” Braxton said with a smile. William jumped from the shadows and wrapped his arm around Caleb’s neck from behind. The Viceroy gasped in shock. William pointed his pistol underneath his chin.

            “Call off the guards,” He snarled.

            “Gwen! Gwen you can’t let them kill me!” Caleb yelled. Gwen watched blankly.

            “I said call off the guards, and I won’t pull the trigger,” William hissed. Caleb nodded, as the guards all dropped Liam and backed away. Artemis grabbed the surprised prince and pulled him to Braxton’s side. William unwrapped his arm from around Caleb’s neck, but kept his gun pointed at him. 

            The four teens scurried away. Liam took one last glance at his family. Alice waved to him. “Bye Liam and Liam’s friends!” She yelled. Liam couldn’t help but smile, and wave back at her. 

Meanwhile

            “Eliot, what’s this?” Jessamine asked as she picked up a pocket watch from his chest. Eliot looked at her like she was clueless, but Jessamine looked at him with really confused amber eyes. He sighed with a slight smile. Though she was very oblivious, he couldn’t help but be head over heels in love with this girl. He twirled his fingers on the chain of the watch with a grin.

            “It’s a pocket watch,” He answered. Jessamine blinked confused.

            “Aren’t those supposed to be in pockets?” Jessamine asked. Eliot chuckled to himself as he looked down at the chain.

            “Yeah….they’re supposed to be in pockets, but this one is very important to me, so I keep it close to my heart,” Eliot explained. Jessamine still looked confused. “You see, my dad got it for me when I was really young. My hat and this pocket watch are the only things I have left of him anymore.”

            Jessamine’s perplexed face remained, but she then grinned. She put her fists on her hips proudly and declared, “I want a special pocket watch too! So I can be just like Eliot.”

            “It’s touching that you wanna be like me Jessamine, but girls don’t carry pocket watches,” Eliot said.

            Jessamine pouted. “Then…I’ll have a special hat just like Eliot!” She proclaimed.

            “Jessamine, you have dozens of special hats,” Eliot said.

            “Then how can I be more like Eliot?” Jessamine asked.

            “Jessamine you can’t be like me, because you’re a girl. You can dress and act like me all you want, but you’ll still be a girl,” Eliot proclaimed.

            “THEN I SHALL BE A BOY LIKE ELIOT!” Jessamine exclaimed. Eliot gagged.

            “Jessamine!” He yelled.

            “I shall wear trousers and shirts like Elliot and––” Jessamine began.

            “Jessamine! You’ll still be a girl even if you do all of those things,” Eliot interrupted. “Besides, I like you the way you are, as a girl, a pretty one at that.”

            “Eliot thinks that I am pretty?” Jessamine asked.

            “You’re gorgeous Jessamine,” Eliot said.

            “I think that Eliot is pretty too,” Jessamine said. Eliot chuckled.

            “Boys aren’t pretty Jessamine, they’re handsome.”

            “Then Eliot is the most handsomest boy that I know.”

            “Braxton might find that offensive,” Eliot laughed. 

A few weeks later they take Jessamine to a Gypsy psychic because she really wanted to get her palm read, and here's what happened.

            A Gypsy boy looked up from Jessamine and towards William. The white haired boy wore a look of annoyance, as he sat on the wooden bench in the waiting room beside Braxton. Liam then mentioned something that made William smile, lighting up his whole face. The boy smiled affectionately. He had never seen something so beautiful.

            He looked back at the strawberry blonde with a grin. “Whose your friend?” He asked.

            “Which one?” She queried as she turned to the group. “I have so many now.”

            “The one with the white hair,” The boy said. Jessamine perked up happily, remembering that one. She nodded excitedly.

            “That’s William! He’s my bestest friend!” Jessamine exclaimed. “He’s the greatest!”

            “William huh? Determined guardian,” The boy said with a gorgeous smirk.

            While William and Braxton talked, the boy stared at him dreamily as he placed his head in his arms. He wore a smile that screamed I’m in love! Braxton stopped talking and stared at him confused. William looked to his right. He jumped in shock, finally realizing the boy was inches away from him for at least the last ten minutes. “Uh…hi?” William said nervously. The boy sighed hearing his melodious voice. “If you could stare in another direction that isn’t towards me, that would be nice.” 

            The boy sighed again. “Aw Will, I think it likes you,” Braxton teased as he elbowed the Valet. William snarled at Braxton, as the odd eyed boy laughed. The Gypsy boy stuck his hand out to William.

            “I’m Quincy,” He said, the same creepy smile on his face. “Nice to meet you William.”

            William reluctantly shook the gypsy’s hand and said, “Nice to meet you too Quincy”. Quincy’s smile grew larger, if that was even possible. He held his hand to his cheek and snuggled it. William stared at him astonished. Were all Gypsies like this? 

A few weeks later Will is still being stalked by Quincy, he's at a bar now.

            Quincy leaned closer to William with a naughty, flamboyant smile. William took another shot of liquor and then turned to Quincy questioningly. The gay boy grinned ear to ear at William. “So how’s Artemis and Braxton?” He asked.

            “What do you mean?” William asked, raising an eyebrow.

            “I mean, aren’t they together?” Quincy asked, hoping that all this talk about Artemis and Braxton would get William to say, “You’re right. She’s a tramp. I love you Quincy. Let’s get married”.

William clenched his shot glass angrily with a snarl. “They seem like they’d be a great couple. They’d probably have the most beautiful children with their mother’s lavender eyes.”

            William looked as though he was getting angrier. “And their father’s silky black hair. The two of them might even be at your house…alone…together…kissing…or who knows what,” Quincy went on. “I wonder what their wedding would look li––”

            But before Quincy could finish William had punched the gypsy boy out of his stool. He stared up at William with shock, rubbing his cheek. He smirked at the boy who glared at him with emerald green eyes. “Oh William, you just know how to woo a man. How did you know I was a masochist?” Quincy asked.

            William sighed and then took another gulp of his alcohol. “Go away Quincy,” William said. The gay boy ignored the valet’s plea and wrapped his arms around William’s torso, making William grimace in horror.

            “That’s just your denial speaking,” Quincy said with a smile. He put his chin in the crook of William’s neck. “How’s the golden rose? Him and Jessamine seem to be enjoying each other.”

            William poured more liquor into his shot glass and took another shot. He could never understand Quincy’s obsession with the group, and why he had to follow them around like a stalker. William chuckled thinking of the airy headed Jessamine. She didn’t even know what his necklace was called. “They’re fine,” William answered.

            “You seem so lonely William,” Quincy proclaimed. “Eliot has Jessamine, Liam has…well…Liam…, and Artemis has Braxton.”

            He rolled his fingers in William’s curls. William knocked Quincy off of him. “Artemis has me. She loves me Quincy. And I love her, so stop all this infuriating flirting,” William hissed.

            “You’re clearly drunk, I have a remedy for that in my parlor,” Quincy said sneakily. He tried to pull William with him, but the taller boy refused to move.

            “I’m not going anywhere with you,” William proclaimed. “Not alone anyways…”

            Quincy pouted. “Why are you playing so hard to get Will?” He asked. William snorted. Quincy sighed adoringly. Why was everything William did so appealing? The white haired boy combed his curls back with his fingers and blew out some air.      

A plan came to the Gypsy boy. He put his arm on William’s shoulder and ran his fingers under his chin. He made William look him in the eye, as stared into the boy’s sad, fathomless eyes, with a sly smirk. “What would you say if I could help you with your little Artemis and Braxton problem?” He asked.

“I told you Quincy, I don’t want to send Braxton to the underworld,” William said.

“No, no William,” Quincy said, rubbing his nose against William’s. “Something much simpler. All you have to do is make Artemis jealous. She’ll come falling into your arms.”

“Not Artemis. She isn’t like other girls, she doesn’t get jealous so easily,” William said, but thought to himself, that’s more of Eliot’s thing.

“She’ll be jealous when she sees your new girlfriend,” Quincy said.

“Who?”

Quincy took a step back from William with a grin. He threw his hands in the air and stroke a pose. “ME!” He yelled. William gagged.

“Quincy, you’re a boy,” William proclaimed. Though you hardly act like it.

“I know that William. I’ll just use my Gypsy magic, to make my self a girl for a little while, enough to make Artemis jealous,” Quincy said. He tilted William’s chin so he could look him in the eye. “There’s one condition though.”

“What?”

“When you die. I want your soul,” Quincy said menacingly. This caused Will to flinch. He had never heard Quincy ever say something like that. “Do we have a deal?”

William couldn’t answer. It all depended on how much he really wanted Artemis. This wasn’t a decision to make when he was buzzed. “I’d have to think about it for a few days Quincy,” William said.

“Too bad. The moon will be at its strongest for the next 24 hours. If you don’t chose soon, well then you’ll have to wait another month to do the spell, and by then, who knows how much in love Artemis and Braxton will be,” Quincy proclaimed.

William sighed. Gypsies did have great persuasive skills. Maybe Braxton had some Gypsy blood too then. Or maybe William was just so moldable, that it didn’t take much to make him do something. This was Eliot’s fault for make him so dependent. “Do you really need my soul?” William asked. “I kind of like it…”

“Okay, you can just be Best Man at the wedding and be Uncle to little Braxton and Artemis Jr.,” Quincy said. “I’m sure it will be a great future. Liam will be King with whatever girl he likes for more than ten minutes as his Queen. Eliot and Jessamine will probably be a Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, and that’ll leave you William. Where do you plan on being in twenty years. Eliot’s little valet who does everything he says like you’ve always been, or your own man?”

Quincy then giggled. He spun on his heels and began to walk away. “You’ve got ‘til tomorrow night to make your decision,” Quincy said. He turned back to William with a smile. “Oh and William, will it be your place, or mine?”

He then skipped out the bar, leaving William alone to think it over. Did he really need Artemis so much that he would sell his soul. Was he that unsure of their relationship? He put down two gold coins for the bartender and then left.

Meanwhile

Braxton hissed in pain as Artemis treated to his bullet wound. He smacked her hand away. “You don’t know what your doing. Let me do it,” He proclaimed, putting his hand out for the rubbing alcohol. Artemis ignored him.

“I’m quite capable of handling a gunshot wound Braxton,” The Duchess proclaimed. “I don’t see why your so obsessed with being injured.”

“You think I enjoy getting hurt?” Braxton asked. Artemis didn’t reply. Braxton harrumphed. “I wouldn’t always be getting hurt if you and the others took better care of yourselves.”

“I was handling the situation,” Artemis said.

“Yeah, until he pulled a gun out,” Braxton mumbled. Artemis purposely put her sewing needle in Braxton’s wound as he yelped in pain. He snarled at her as she went back to sewing up the wound. “Gosh women, you and your little temper tantrums.”

            “Perhaps the reason you enjoy getting injured, is because you want to die. I mean there might be no more reason to live with Violet gone,” Artemis said. Braxton’s eyes widen in surprise hearing Artemis saying that name.

            “How did you––”

            “Liam told me,” Artemis interrupted. “I think its rather touching.”

            Braxton growled angrily, “I hate that spoiled Prince.”

            “You really loved her didn’t you? Was she pretty?” Artemis asked.

            “Gorgeous,” Braxton sighed. He looked at Artemis, who sewed fervently at his wound. The two girls were so different. Violet had dark raven locks and pale skin, while Artemis had bright chestnut curls and skin like coffee with a perfect amount of cream, but he found himself attracted to both of them. Maybe because they were fighters, but Violet lost the biggest fight of her life, and Artemis would never allow something like that to happen. Artemis was a winner.

He found himself leaning closer to his little personal nurse. He didn’t even know what he was planning, but as soon as Artemis looked up at him, he pressed his lips against hers. The Duchess’ eyes widened in alarm, but slowly melted into Braxton’s arms. When the two heard a gasp, they pulled away from each other and turned to the doorway.

There stood William. His face was heartbreaking as he stared at Braxton and Artemis, wrapped in each other’s arms. He couldn’t get any words out, he only stuttered. He could hardly stand, leaning against the wall for support. “William! It’s not––” Artemis began, but the Valet had ran out.

Artemis turned to Braxton and pushed him onto his bed. “This is all your fault!” She yelled.

“My fault! You kissed me back! This is as much your fault, as it is mine!” Braxton hissed as he sat up on his elbows. Artemis bit her lip guiltily. She got up and ran out of the room after William, calling for him. Braxton put his head in his hands. He had thought that he and William had settled this, but now he had messed it up again.

Artemis lost track of William. She had ran through out the whole house, but the boy was in none of the rooms. She felt so ashamed, this was her fault. She had kissed Braxton and now William was missing. He could be anywhere now.

Anywhere like going to Quincy’s. It had started to rain furiously, but William ignored it. It had drenched his hair until the point it was straight, and fell into his eyes. He looked as though he had just went swimming. He knocked on Quincy’s door. The Gypsy opened the door wearing his pajamas and with lidded eyes. His expression changed when he saw William, instead of sleepy, he looked astounded. “It’ll be your place,” William said.

The Gypsy boy smiled and allowed William into his parlor. He grabbed a blanket for the wet boy and wrapped it around William. He sat next to William and held his head to his shoulder. “What happened Will. Tell Quincy all about it,” He said.

“You were right…about Artemis and Braxton,” William said. “They’ve been together behind my back the whole time.”

“So the plan is a go?” Quincy asked. William nodded. Quincy laughed as he clapped his hands giddily. “Oh this is great!”

He snapped and a contract appeared in front of William along with a quill. “If you could just sign on the dotted line, and we can start with the fun stuff,” He said. William read the contract first and then scribbled his name as the contract disappeared along with the quill. “Great! Great!” He laughed. “You’re soul’s now mine Will!”

“Okay, do what you promised Quincy,” William said. The flamboyant Gypsy boy smiled menacingly at William.

“Always check for fine print Will,” Quincy snickered.

“What?” William asked. Quincy stabbed him in the heart as he gasped in shock.

“It never said…I had to do what I promised. It just said I get your soul when you die,” Quincy cackled. “You’ll be mine forever William, my darling.”

The floor glowed around William as Quincy pulled his dagger out of William’s chest. The white haired boy coughed up blood. Quincy’s magic trunk opened up and sucked out William’s soul. Quincy laughed as William’s soul reached out for his unconscious body. “NO!” He yelled, but the trunk had sucked him in.

            Quincy hugged his trunk and rubbed it’s front. “I love you William. Now we can be together until the end,” Quincy sighed. He turned to the boy’s dead body. “What to do with that though?”

            Liam, Artemis, Braxton, Eliot, and Jessamine all sat around worried. Braxton and Artemis were on opposite sides of the room, obviously not on speaking terms. Eliot glared at the two. “We wouldn’t be sulking like this if you two just knew how to control your emotions,” Eliot hissed. Braxton snarled at him.

            “It was Braxton, he kissed me,” Artemis mumbled.

            “Don’t put the blame on Braxton. This is mostly your fault. I doubt he was mad at Braxton for cheating on him,” Eliot said. Artemis looked appalled, her jaw dropped in shock at the accusations. “You have some thinking to do Artemis, because if William comes back and you hurt him again, you’re out of here.”

            Jessamine put her hand on Eliot’s shoulder. “Eliot shouldn’t be mad at Artemis. William is probably fine. I’d wouldn’t allow it if William got hurt,” Jessamine said. “William is my best friend too.”

            Eliot nodded at Jessamine. A knock came to the door as the kids all perked up, excited that it might be William. Braxton ran to the door, and threw it open only to see an unconscious William with a stab wound in his chest. Artemis screamed when she saw it. Braxton got on his knees and felt for his pulse, but… “His pulse, he’s…” He mumbled. He backed away from William’s body unable to say it.

            “No! He’s not! Do it right Braxton! He’s not dead! Check his pulse again!” Artemis yelled.

            “Artemis he’s dead!” Braxton yelled. “I have fourteen years of medical training. He. Is. Dead.”

            “Oh god…” Liam muttered. “Will. Who did this?”

            “WILLIAM!” Jessamine yelled. She fell into the horrified Eliot’s arms and sobbed. “William was my best friend!”

            Eliot rubbed the crying girl in his arms, staring down at his dead valet, no, his dead best friend. How could he be dead? Tears built in his eyes, but instead of crying, he began to boil with rage. He turned to Braxton and Artemis. “This is all your fault! William is dead and its all because of you two! If you hadn’t…If he hadn’t seen you….he wouldn’t have…” Eliot was stuttering now, just like William would have done.

He screamed and fell to his knees by William’s side. He put his head on his friend’s stomach and sobbed. He couldn’t remember ever crying like this. All the sadness bottled up, finally blew up on Eliot. He had nothing from his past now. His mother was in the hands of his enemy, his father was dead, and now the last fragment of his happy past was gone. The last time he saw William was when he had gone to the bar. That will always be in his mind. If he had known, he would have never called William a drunk, he would have never had that argument with him. He banged the ground furiously. “I will avenge you William!” Eliot yelled. “I will kill whoever did this to you!”

“Eliot,” Liam said as he leaned down to the boy to console him. Eliot smacked him away.

“NO! Leave me alone!” Eliot yelled.

“Is Eliot okay?” Jessamine asked as she bent down beside Eliot. Eliot hissed at Jessamine, making her scurry away.

“I said leave me alone Jessamine!”

Jessamine began to tear up. She stood up, her lip quivering with sadness. “I…I…Jessamine hates Eliot! Jessamine just wanted to help! Eliot didn’t have to yell at Jessamine!” She yelled, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Eliot is mean, and grumpy, and rude! Jessamine doesn’t ever want to talk to Eliot ever again!” She ran upstairs slamming the door to her room behind her.

A few days later

The robed figure walked into the parlor of Quincy’s business. The Gypsy boy, dressed in silk pajamas, stared at the robed figure questioningly. “Who do I have the honor of helping?” He asked. The person dropped their hood and turned to the Gypsy revealing Artemis Sherwood. Quincy’s eyes widened surprised at such royalty walking into his shop. “Duchess Sherwood! It is great meeting you again! What brings you in? Would you like your palm read, perhaps maybe even a tarot card reading,” Quincy said.

“I’m not in here for your simple Gypsy magic Quincy,” Artemis said as she took a seat in Quincy’s plush red couch. Quincy pouted at Artemis. Maybe being with the uncivilized Braxton, Eliot, and William had ruined her manners, because she sat before she was offered. “I’m in here for something a little more advanced.”

“Well what ever the Duchess wants, I’ll do,” Quincy said. “Would you like some tea? It’s from the Arcand Kingdom. Very rare.”

“No thank you Quincy. I had coffee and biscuits with the boys earlier,” Artemis said.

Quincy took a seat across from the girl and poured himself a cup. “The boys? No Jessamine?” He asked. Artemis sighed and put her hands in her lap.

“Sadly no. I haven’t seen her in days. She locked herself in her room after William died,” Artemis replied. “That’s why I’m here though.”

Quincy looked up from his tea questioningly, raising an eyebrow. Artemis’ calm face was now a determined stare towards the Gypsy. Quincy put his tea down and gave Artemis his complete attention. He leaned his head on his hand lazily. “…I heard somewhere that Gypsies could resurrect dead people. I was just curious if that was true,” Artemis said.

“Messing with the dead has its consequences Artemis,” Quincy said.

“I know.”

Quincy’s face remained emotionless. “You really love Will don’t you?” He asked. Artemis nodded. The Gypsy sighed. He leaned forward and placed his head on his interlocked fingers with a smile. “What’s in it for me?”

Artemis large burlap bag out of her cloak. She spilled it’s contents all over Quincy’s coffee table. The Gypsy stared wide eyed at all the gold coins, almost drooling with excitement. “13 pounds of gold coins,” Artemis offered.

“That’s over 28,000 carats!” The boy laughed as he looked the coins over to make sure they were real. “I’ll do it!”

“Thank you Quincy,” Artemis said with a smile.

“But there is one small problem,” Quincy said as he got up and ran his finger on top of his prized trunk. “His soul.”

“What about it?” Artemis asked.

“Well I can’t really do it without his soul. It might take a while to find it…possibly a year,” Quincy said. Artemis’ jaw dropped in awe.

“I don’t have a year! I’ll pay you double if you do it in a week! Please Quincy!” Artemis begged. Quincy nearly gagged with the gorgeous thought of 56,000 carats of gold coins. “I’ll pay you right now Quincy!”

Artemis pulled out another sack of gold coins and put it on the table. She stared at Quincy with pleading lavender eyes. Quincy smiled. “Well then,” He said. He snapped and the coins disappeared, as Artemis gasped in surprise. “I know where his soul is.”

“Where is it?” Artemis asked. Quincy snapped and William appeared next to him chained up. Though it wasn’t exactly William, he was transparent and instead of human colors, he was all a ghostly purple, like a spirit.

“I have it,” Quincy answered. He grabbed on to William’s collar and pulled the helpless boy closer to him. “My own little determined warrior.”

William scowled at the shorter boy, but when he noticed Artemis, his face turned to one of surprise. Artemis wore the same expression. “I’m so disappointed in you Duchess Sherwood. Putting a price on the life of a loved one. Don’t you think William is just priceless. No amount of gold coins are equivalent to him,” Quincy said, “but thanks for the 400 gold coins anyways.”

“You took his soul? But…Quincy why?” Artemis asked.

“Why? Because you weren’t taking care of your man Artemis, so I took him,” Quincy proclaimed. “He signed the contract and everything. Legally, he’s my property.”

Artemis shook her head in disbelief as she got up. She slowly backed away towards the door, meaning to get Eliot, Braxton, and Liam, but Quincy had locked the door. Artemis gasped in horror as she turned to the Gypsy who smiled menacingly at the young Duchess. “I can’t believe you’d actually thought that I’d let you go after telling you so much. You’re really dumb,” Quincy said. “I’m sorry Duchess Sherwood, but I’m gonna have to kill you.”

“No!” Artemis yelled. She ducked as Quincy jabbed at her with his dagger. The girl really wished she had worn her high heels, but she wasn’t expecting this. The Gypsy boy came at her again, grabbing her hair. “You should have cut your hair like I told you too.”

 He pulled her against him. Artemis reached for the knife in her stockings, but Quincy pulled it out before her fingers could even feel it. He tossed it to the ground a few yards away. Artemis had never felt so helpless. The Gypsy boy put the dagger to Artemis’ cheek and turned her towards William’s soul, so he could watch.

“I bet William wants to see the show,” Quincy laughed.

“Quincy no! Leave her alone!” William yelled. Quincy’s smirk only grew. “QUINCY!”

He moved the dagger to above Artemis’ heart. The girl panted with fear. She took one a glance at the worried William. “Quincy no!” He yelled, but the dagger came down. Artemis screamed, but she felt no pain. Quincy’s arm left her neck as she turned.

Eliot held a rapier that skewered the boy. He leaned forward. “I did say I would kill whoever killed William. It appears as though that person was you,” Eliot whispered into Quincy’s ear. He pulled his rapier out and allowed the boy to fall to the ground.

Behind him was Braxton and Liam. Braxton carried William’s dead body, but he passed it to Liam when he saw the hyperventilating Artemis. He cupped her face in his hands and looked her over. “Are you okay Artemis?” He asked. “I couldn’t live if you got hurt too.”

William’s soul didn’t look too happy watching the scene in front of him. Now that Quincy was dead, the chains disappeared and William’s soul jumped back into his dead body. “AH!” He yelled in pain. He fell out of Liam’s arms. “Ah! There’s another scar on my chest! Why do people always go for my chest!?”

Later that day...

Eliot picked open the lock of Jessamine’s room, opening the door a little bit. He took a peek inside and saw a mess. He threw the door open and saw a shadow crawling across the walls like a spider. He yelped in surprise as it got up in his face. He gasped in shock as the shadow crawled away. What was this creature? What was it doing in Jessamine’s room, and where was Jessamine? Black goo began to drip off the shadows body, revealing a tired and panting Jessamine. Before Eliot could get to her, she turned back into a shadow and scurried to the other side of the room. She threw her self against the wall, knocking the substance off of her again, but this time kept her human appearance.

“Jessamine?” Eliot asked confused. The girl panted as she fell to her knees, hands on the wall for balance. “Jessamine, what was that?”

“That was me Eliot. That was me,” The girl panted. She turned to Eliot with tears in her eyes. “I’m a monster, I know.”

Eliot dropped to his knees beside her, rubbing her back. “No, no, no Jessamine, you’re not a monster,” Eliot said.

“Yes I am! I ruined everything Eliot! We were all so happy together, and I had to ruin everything!” Jessamine cried.

“What are you––” Eliot began.

“I warped it Eliot, I warped reality! All because I was mad, I had to warp it! I separated us, when we used to all get along so well!” Jessamine cried. Eliot still didn’t fully understand, but the memory of him telling Jessamine that he would change it all for her. That’s why she had asked. She wanted to change it back to the way it was. “It’s not fair! It’s not fair that I’m the only one who remembers! I hate having to relive this all again!”

“Jessamine,” Eliot said, “What happened in the other reality?”

“We used to all be such friends, since we were little.”

“Hey Liam! You can’t get it!” Braxton laughed, holding Liam’s crown out of his reach. The smaller boy tried to jump and get it, but just couldn’t grab it. “Ha, you’re so short.”

Liam punched Braxton in the stomach. When the older boy doubled over in pain he grabbed his crown, put it on his head and ran off, Braxton close behind. Queen Gwendolyn and Bradford Roberts, the queen’s general, watched as their children played in the garden. Pierce and Adeline Grayson walked out to the patio with Eliot, who ran out to chase after Liam and Braxton.

“Aren’t they just the cutest things?” Adeline sighed, placing her cheek daintily on her hand. She then looked around, “Where are the Sherwoods, Hamiltons, and Blacks?”

William ran out in between the Queen and Adeline giggling. He called out Eliot’s name playfully as the two boys ran to each other. They joyfully began to play tag, leaving Braxton and Liam to their chase of death. Arthur Hamilton ran out behind William, holding his eye. “He’s such a fighter. The kid kicked me in my eye,” Arthur hissed. He chuckled and elbowed Bradford. “I guess you got one new recruit for your army Brad.”

“Will’s too young, we don’t start recruiting them until they’re seven,” Bradford teased. The two men shared a laugh. “Is Hazel in the parlor with Olivia?”

“Of course, you know how long those woman can talk,” Arthur sighed.

“So Arthur…I don’t get a hi? Is Brad your new best friend or something?” Pierce Grayson said as he made his, and his son’s soon to be, infamous pouty face.

“Of course not! I…I…I…” Arthur said fearfully, beginning his, and William’s soon to be, well known stuttering. He then hugged Pierce sniveling. “I’m sorry Pierce! I just…I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

Pierce smiled proudly. Artemis and Jessamine then skipped past the men, wearing frilly dresses. Artemis looked a little out of place in hers though, seeing as she was more likely to put on a pair a pants than a skirt. Jessamine looked perfect in hers.  Sebastian and Lucinda Black, and Quinton and Hera Sherwood walked out.

“Oo! Oo! I know! Let’s take a  photograph of the children just so we can keep this memory forever!” Hera exclaimed excitedly. She grabbed onto Sebastian’s arm with a large smile. “Sebastian you know how to work a camera, take a picture of us all.

The black haired man smiled at the woman. “Of course.”

 

“Jessamine, Eliot is your enemy,” Sebastian said, but it didn’t look like Jessamine enjoyed that sentence. She gripped the diamond engagement ring on her right hand. “He’s too strong, you have to kill him and take his powers.”

“No!” Jessamine yelled.

“You disobedient child!” Sebastian hissed as he grabbed Jessamine’s shoulders. “I’ve raised you! You ingrate!”

Jessamine phased out of his hands and backed away from her father. “No! You raised me to be a weapon! You’re not my father!” Jessamine yelled, “I will not be a tool for you to use!”

Before Sebastian could grab his daughter again, Jessamine maneuvered out of his reach. He sighed. “Well its too bad that you don’t want to kill him,” Sebastian sighed. “Sameal, bring out Eliot please.”

Sebastian’s valet brought out Eliot, struggling in the man’s arms. The boy got a glimpse at Jessamine with wide eyes, and Jessamine returned the look. “I guess I’ll have to do it,” Sebastian proclaimed. “Sameal, pull the trigger.”

“No!” Jessamine yelled, but Sameal was already pulling the trigger. Too much power surged through Jessamine as she began to quiver, looking at the dead Eliot on the floor. She screamed, as her eyes turned completely black as dark smoke rose from them. “Eliot!”

“Jessamine?” Sebastian asked. Everything around Jessamine, began to warp and turn into dust.

A Few Days Later at the marketplace

The group walked through the crowd, wondering what the big ruckus was about. “Gather ‘round! Gather round everybody and listen up!” A man yelled in the center of the commotion. William’s ear twitched with familiarity. The kids pushed to the front of the group, so they could see the man. He was turned away from them, looking at the other side of the group. His white hair, tied in a green ribbon was oddly familiar. “The Queen has stepped down as ruler! And with no Prince Liam in sight, who will lead our kingdom!”

“Mother…” Liam whispered.

“Perhaps King Phillip? Or maybe Viceroy Caleb! Or perhaps, the people!” The man yelled. The crowd cheered, but the kids stayed silent. The man turned back around and instantly his eyes went to William. Now that the children had a good look at the man, he looked like an older version of the boy. Almond shaped green eyes, dirt colored skin, and curly white hair with a few strands of black from age. He stopped momentarily, staring at William with wide shocked eyes. His eyes than scanned up towards Jessamine, who was still on William’s shoulders. He opened his mouth as if he was about to say something to the kids, but then slowly turned away and went on.

Artemis grabbed William’s arm and leaned towards him as the man hyped up the crowd. “He looks just like you William,” She said.

“Yeah…” William mumbled.

“The revolution is on its way with the people as its leader! The revolution will not be written or typed!” He yelled. The people cheered louder, almost like a bomb went off under pillows. “The revolution will not be written! The revolution will not be brought to you by one of the big companies down your block. The revolution will not be starring your favorite actresses and actors, acting it out as if a play.”

The crowd was growing louder, short-circuiting William’s clockwork hand with all the vibrations. This man knew how to draw up a good crowd, and to keep them wanting more. He ran around in the circle the people created around him. “The revolution will not be written! There will be no italics or bold print or special font for the revolution. The poor and the rich will join in the belief in a better day. The revolution will not be written.”

William felt slightly moved by this speech. If he hadn’t known the revolution’s true intention, he would have been cheering this man on, whether he was familiar or a stranger. “There will be no highlights! No theme songs! The revolution will not be written! It will not be written! The revolution will not be no fairytale brothers and sisters! The revolution will be live!” The man shouted finally. He threw his arms out and panted as the crowd cheered and screamed and cried. He took his bow.

William turned to Eliot who was speechless, his mouth hanging open with awe. Even Braxton couldn’t get a word out. His hand was placed shockingly over his mouth. Artemis looked confused about her feelings, she looked partially angry at the man for lying about the revolution to all these people, but she also looked like she wanted to cheer and clap for him too. Liam looked slightly sickened, his face pale. Jessamine patted William’s head as he looked up. “William, Isn’t Mr. Arthur a great speaker?” She asked. William raised an eyebrow.

“Mr. Arthur?” William asked.

“Yup, he’s a friend of Sebastian. He used to come visit me all the time,” Jessamine said. “He had the cutest picture of his baby boy.”

“Baby boy?”

“William and Mr. Arthur’s son had the same name. William and Mr. Arthur’s son looked very similar. Green eyes, dirt skin, same smile. Except Mr. Arthur’s son had black hair,” Jessamine proclaimed.

“Jessamine, I had black hair when I was a baby…” William mumbled.

“Oh…” Jessamine whispered.

 His hair wasn’t fully white until he was two. His parents did have a picture, but the first copy of him with black hair had probably been washed away during the hurricane, but the second one had gone…missing, like his father. William stared at the man with a face of shock. So…that was…Arthur Hamilton.

William picked up Jessamine and put her down. He couldn’t be Arthur Hamilton. Arthur Hamilton was dead! DEAD! Or so William wanted to believe, so he could stop worrying himself over it. But this man looked as if he…no…he couldn’t be, because Arthur Hamilton was dead. He looked around anxiously. “William, are you okay?” Artemis asked. Braxton snapped out of his daze, and turned to William.

“And why is your hand limp? Will, did you break your hand again?” Braxton asked. “Or perhaps the vibrations broke it. I’ll have to fix it later.”

William looked around. “I have to get out of here, right now, or I’m gonna be sick,” He muttered. He looked sickly in appearance. When he turned, the man had grabbed his arm and pulled him to his side. He bowed to Eliot, taking his hat off as he bent over.

“Nice to meet ya young man. I’m Arthur. May I borrow him?” He asked. William pulled his arm out of the man’s grasp and snarled.

“No. You can’t,” He hissed. The man gave him a look of shock.

“Sure you can! We don’t mind!” Eliot said. William and Arthur stared at Eliot like he was crazy.

“Young Master!” William yelled. The man was now staring at Will perplexed.

“What? This man looks like a nice guy, you’ll be fine,” Braxton said.

“You should listen to your friends William,” The man said winking. Will felt sickened. How had this man known his name?

Jessamine clapped overjoyed. “Oh that was splendid! I didn’t know Mr. Arthur knew magic. How did Mr. Arthur guess William’s name like that?” She asked. Arthur bowed to Jessamine, his hat against his chest.

“Good afternoon to you Lady Jessamine. Your father is rather worried about you. And may I add, that was not a magic trick,” He said. He leaned towards William. “You taught her first person, but not second?”

“She’s a very stubborn learner,” William said. Arthur chuckled.

“Listen Will, how about you and I have a talk,” Arthur said.

“No thanks, Arthur right? I have to get home…like…now…curfew and all. Right guys?” William asked. Before the other teens could reply, William had walked to the front of the group and stormed off, the kids following.

“William! William! Wait come back!” Arthur yelled. He got angered. “William Alec Hamilton! Get back here this instant!”

William stopped, eyes wide in horror. “I didn’t know William had a middle name,” Jessamine said.

“…I don’t…well…I did, I don’t remember it,” William said. He thought the urge to believe this man, but anyone could yell out a random middle name. “William Alec Hamilton huh? What a handsome name,” Quincy had said. And when William explained that he didn’t have a middle name, Quincy winked at him and said that “he’ll” remind him.

William stood straight, his head dropped in thought. He then turned to Arthur. “How did you know that?” He asked.

“Cause, I’m your father William,” Arthur said.

“My father is dead,” William snarled. Arthur outstretched his hand.

“I know I’ve hurt you and your mother William, but please…just let me explain,” Arthur said. William turned to Eliot, who nodded. He took a large sigh and then walked back towards Arthur.

“You got an hour of my time, afterwards I’m going back home,” Will said.

Arthur smiled brightly, the same grin that lit up William’s face when he smiled.

“I believe you’re of legal drinking age now? Let’s see, I left home when you were five and it’s been….eleven years? You’re sixteen! Happy belated sixteenth birthday Will! March 16, 1662, four in the morning, you had your mother swearing my name like a sailor,” Arthur chatted with a beam on his face, as he held the bar door open for William. Most of the men in the bar greeted William and William could easily greet them back. “Have you been in here before?” Arthur asked.

William shrugged and lied, “A few times.”

Arthur raised an eyebrow as if he didn’t believe that. “So you only have an hour, get to talking. Two whiskies please, George,” William yelled. The Bartender slid down two shot glasses and two bottles of whiskey, which the father and son both caught.

Arthur scratched his head. “Uh…well…where do I begin?” He asked.

“Start when you meant mom,” William said. Arthur lit up hearing William bring up his former wife.

“Ah, Hazel. Hazel Raymond, I remember first meeting her back when I was in my early twenties, going to university,” Arthur said.

 

            “CHUG! CHUG!” The men around a younger Arthur chanted as the boy swallowed a large flask of Ebiasian beer. He set the flask down, clearly intoxicated and let out a belch that reeked of alcohol. The men cheered for Arthur as he bowed proudly.

He heard someone snort behind him. It was one of the girls from the university. “To think one of the boys from the university is wasting his genius by destroying his brain cells and chugging down the most alcoholic beverage in this world and maybe even the next,” She said. Her sparkling mint green eyes glared at Arthur. He smiled as her, stumbling a bit.

“Why hello to you too miss,” He said, looking her over. She had dirt colored skin like him, and pale gray hair that had natural ringlets tied up with black ribbon in a ponytail on the top of her head, but with a  few loose short strands in the front. She wore a black off the shoulder dress. It’s bodice had a print of flowers and a black taffeta skirt.

Arthur slid into the stool next to the lady. He took her gloved hand and kissed it. “What is such a gorgeous lady doing at a bar so late at night?” He asked.

“Can’t a women have a shot or two? Men aren’t the only people in this world,” She said.

Arthur grinned. “I like a women who knows how to enjoy her liquor,” He said.

“Yes, well, it appears as though you’re quite enjoying your liquor as well,” The women proclaimed. Arthur smirked at her.

“I’m Arthur Hamilton, nice to meet you,” He said.

“I know who you are Arthur. I see you around the campus. I’m Hazel Raymond,” The women replied. The two shook hands.

“Well Hazel, I would very much enjoy it if we got to know each other. You’re a very pretty woman,” Arthur said.

“Thank you Arthur, but if you’re looking for a date, I will not be swayed so easily,” Hazel said.

“Oh Hazel, I wasn’t asking for just a date,” Arthur whispered with a smirk. He raised his eyebrows at the woman as she gasped in disgust.

“You are…just terrible Mr. Arthur!” She yelled as she dumped her bottle of whiskey on Arthur’s head. He only laughed and watched as she stormed away.

 

“Wow, you sound like a drunk and a creeper,” William said. Arthur smiled and looked up as if remembering his years at the university.

“Yeah…” He mumbled proudly. “Anyways, after my university years, I got a job as a lawyer, married your mother, and knocked her up with you.”

“Doesn’t knocked up mean I wasn’t planned?” William asked.

Arthur ignored that question. “Then about nine months later you came about and we gave you the name of William Alec Hamilton. William being your maternal grandfather’s name, and Alec being my father’s name,” Arthur added. “The end.”

“What about when you left?” William asked. Arthur gagged a bit, but then cleared his throat.

“Well…I…that’s uh…” Arthur muttered. “I…really…feel stupid for…that. Please know that Will. I didn’t like that decision.”

            “I just want to know why you did it. Why did you leave me and mom alone?” William asked.

            “Well after I won one of my big cases, I was at the bar…”

            Arthur took another shot of whiskey as Sebastian walked up to him with a  mischievous smirk on his face. Arthur tried to avert his red irises as the man turned towards him. “Arthur! I haven’t seen you in years. How’s Will?” Sebastian asked.

            Arthur hiccupped and then turned to Sebastian. “He’s fine. He’s home sleeping at the moment. How’s Jessamine?” Arthur asked.

            “Oh you know. Locked up in that little tower of hers as usual,” Sebastian sighed. Arthur harrumphed, he wasn’t sure if Sebastian meant that figuratively or literally speaking, but he didn’t like how the man said it. “Can I ask a favor?”

            “What do you want this time Sebastian?” Arthur asked.

            “I need a little help on a big project I’m doing. It involves a little change in the government we have,” Sebastian changed.

            “You know I can’t help you with that. You know how Pierce is. I couldn’t hurt him by doing something like that to him. He loves his government. How is he anyways, I haven’t seen him since our college years?” Arthur said.

            Sebastian grinned. “Pierce is fine. He had a son you know. The same age as William,” Sebastian proclaimed. “Speaking of William, how much do you love him?”

            “I would sell my soul to the devil for him,” Arthur said.

            “Oh really? I would gladly buy it from you,” Sebastian said.

            “What?”

            “What if I told you that your precious William and your precious Hazel are at home with knives at their throats,” Sebastian said. Arthur stood up, panic written all over his face.

            “Sebastian!” He yelled.

            “You know I love ultimatums Arthur. Help me with this revolution, or I kill your only child and your wife,” Sebastian chuckled.

            “You sick twisted - !” Arthur snarled, grabbing Sebastian’s collar and heaving him to his feet. “How would you feel if I put an ultimatum on Jessamine!”

            “Do what you want with that girl, I don’t care. I can always use Eliot for my plan. Besides when Jessamine dies, he’ll get her powers. Which would be a lot easier for me,” Sebastian said. Arthur looked horrified.

            “…You…You…” Arthur stuttered. “How do I even know you’ll do it?”

            “Do you want to check your home?” Sebastian asked. Arthur dropped Sebastian and ran out of the bar.

 

            The worried father burst open the front door of his home. “HAZEL! WILLIAM!” He yelled. He ran through the whole house, but stopped when he got to the bedroom. Two men stood in the master bedroom. One held an unconscious William. The little boy wore his pajamas as if the men had pulled him out of bed. Hazel was in the other man’s arms wearing a blue flannel nightgown. She also was unconscious. Guns were held to the heads of the two unconscious Hamiltons. Arthur stared at the men in horror.

Sebastian strolled into the room. “So, what’s your decision?” He asked. “Join me or watch Henry and Jonas kill Will and Hazel.”

            “I hate you Sebastian,” Arthur growled. “I hope you rot in hell.”

            “That’s too bad. Hazel was so pretty alive, and Will was a handsome devil,” Sebastian said. He flicked his wrists and Jonas and Henry’s fingers pulled teasingly on the trigger.

            “WAIT NO! PLEASE!” He yelled. He fell to his knees in front of Sebastian. “Please, Sebastian. Don’t kill them. I’ll…I’ll…join you, please. Just don’t kill them, I need them.”

            “I knew you’d come to your senses Arthur,” Sebastian said with a smile.

Arthur looked towards his unconscious son, so limp in Henry’s arms. He was so weak and fragile, like a piece of glass. Tears built in his eyes. “Oh look at him, he’s crying!” Henry laughed.

“Shut up Henry. Let’s go. We’ll leave Arthur alone so he can say goodbye and gather his things. We’ll be waiting outside Arthur,” Sebastian said. He turned and left. Jonas laid Hazel back on the master bed. Arthur snatched William from Henry, who walked out behind Jonas and Sebastian.

Arthur carried his son back to his bedroom. He looked around at William’s room. His blue room with stars painted on his ceiling. The father laid William on his bed and tucked him back under his sheets. On the end table besides his son’s bed was a picture of baby William. Arthur took it out of its frame and put it in his pocket. He kissed his son’s cheek and the left his room.

He walked to his wife and tucked Hazel into bed too. He kissed her on the cheek and brushed the gray hair out of her eyes. “I love you two so much, know that,” Arthur said. He gathered his things into a suitcase and left his house.

Sebastian patted him on the back. “As long as you work for me, I promise no harm will come to Hazel and William,” He said. Arthur didn’t reply.

 

            “So how is Hazel?” Arthur said.

            “Mom?” William asked. “…She’s dead Dad…”

            Arthur’s eyes slowly widened in complete and utter horror. “Dead?” He asked. He took a deep breath of shock and combed his peppered curls back. “Since when?”

            “She was murdered a few weeks before the hurricane…” William said. He looked at the torn Arthur who appeared as though someone had just ripped out his soul and heart. “You okay?”

            “No…No…I’m just thinking about the promise someone broke to me,” Arthur said.