PROLOGUE
... 1875 ...
It was just another English day in Oxford -- students rushing through classes and professors giving out lectures. It seemed like only yesterday when William Randolf Pratt first stepped foot within Oxford. In reality, it had been four long years ago. Graduation was just around the corner and his future was still to be written. He had thought about perhaps pursuing a career within the university. He loved literature and history and wouldn’t mind at all sharing his love for the subject to other young and willing minds. But someone had thrown something else into his lap which is why he found himself waiting outside the offices of a Mr. Wyndham.
After a few more minutes of waiting, he was finally ushered into the fairly ornate office.
“This way Mr. Pratt. Mr. Wyndham is ready to see you now.” The woman said opening the door for him.
“Aah… William. It’s so good to see you once again. How are you doing today?” Mr. Wyndham said giving William a firm handshake.
“I am well, sir. Thank you for asking.”
“And your mother?”
“She is well as can be expected, given her condition that is.”
“Ah yes, I am truly sorry to hear that she is still feeling a little ill. I will continue hope that she gets better. Anyway, to the matter at hand. My son tells me that you are very interested in philosophy and literature.”
“Yes, sir. I have expressed quite an interest and a love, I must confess, for such courses in Oxford as Jonathan, I’m sure has told you.”
“Yes. Yes. … Well I called you here because I want to offer you a position in the firm I’m working for.”
“For the publishing company, sir?” William asked hopefully.
“Not quite William. It’s is not for the publishing company I’m afraid. It is a position in a … uhm … research facility were we decipher ancient text. With your expertise in literature and philosophy we were hoping that maybe you could help us with our endeavors. I can’t promise any glamour with the position though. It calls for numerous sleepless nights in a library setting.”
“I see. Well may I ask who your clients are?”
“We mainly deal with a few museums and a number of historians. You will be well-compensated since propriety is very important to our clients.”
“Propriety sir?”
“Our clients require a certain degree of privacy and anonymity.”
“I see.” William said pushing his spectacles up his nose.
“I know this is a bit sudden. You have one week to think about it William and I hope you’re answer will be yes.”
CHAPTER 1 – The New Position
Fall 1879
William woke to the commotion that was going on downstairs. He groaned at the interruption and hoped that it was all a mistake. He already spent three extra hours at work trying to decipher some ancient Hebrew text that came in about two weeks ago. He needed sleep. He only had less than hour to talk to his mother tonight. But sure enough, a maid came knocking on his door.
“Master William. Begging your pardon sir but there are two men downstairs that are being insistent on seeing you sir. I told them you were fast asleep, but they bade me to wake you.”
With a sigh, William sat up in bed. “Tell them I’ll be down shortly. Thank you Mary.”
The maid bowed slightly then closed his door. She headed back down the stairs to tell the “guests” that her master would be with them shortly. William found his discarded clothes on a chair and grudgingly put them on. He ran his fingers through his hair, not even bothering to properly comb his wild locks in place. He crept silently so as not to wake her mother as he made his way through the hallway and down the stairs. His best friend Jonathan greeted him while another gentleman was pacing about with an agitated look on his face.
“Jonathan? I didn’t expect it to be you. What’s going on?” William asked.
“It’s an emergency, Will. We have to go back to the research facility now!”
“Research facility? Why? What happened?”
“We don’t have time. I’ll have tell you the reason on the way.” Jonathan said, grabbing his hand and leading him towards the door.
**
William found himself were he was but five hours ago. He worked as a translator and semi-librarian in the Council of Watchers Research Facility. He had no idea what he had gotten himself into when Mr. Wyndham offered him this position which he eagerly accepted. After the initial shock on finding out that demons truly existed, he found the job to be enjoyable enough. He was surrounded by books and his constant thirst for knowledge was satisfied each and everyday. He was paid handsomely for his work in exchange for secrecy and emergencies like this one. Apparently, someone in the Council was attacked by a poisonous demon and they needed a cure as soon as possible.
William knew better than to ask anything else about the victim. His job was to find a cure and that was what he focused on. After about an hour of searching and determining the identity of the demon in question, he was able to find a reference for a cure in one of the newly acquired texts that came in just a month ago from some ruin in Italy.
It took another hour to get the correct spell and ingredients. But after a little mixing and few incantations, he was able to produce the necessary cure. With an appreciative look, the other man that had accompanied Jonathan that night hurriedly left the confines of the library, with the precious cure in his hands.
“You’re a life saver Will. Sorry to have dragged you out of bed for this.”
“Not to worry Jonathan. … Just put in a good word for me with your father. And maybe mention an extra bonus come winter?”
“That should be easy to do, though quite unnecessary. You just saved the life of the Slayer!”
“The Slayer?! You mean? … But how? Doesn’t the Slayer have at least three guards with her at all times?”
Jonathan nodded. “That’s true. We actually lost one of them today. It seems like they were ambushed.”
“Oh. Well I’m glad I could help out then. I guess that should fill my excitement quota for the month.” William said looking though the various books he had strewn across the table in his frantic search for the needed cure.
“Well you know, you could always ask to be assigned to field duty. I’m sure they could find some potential Slayer to stick you with.”
“Don’t even mock me. Field work is hardly for me. You know I was in denial that demons existed for at least the first four months I was working here. Add to that the fact that I can barely hold my own in any fight.”
“That’s just because you don’t even want to try or learn.”
“I can’t help it that I like being surrounded by books more than drunkards and scallywags.”
“There’s more to life than this library and these books William. I still wonder how we even hit it off in Oxford.”
“I know exactly why you stuck around me. You needed me to help you with your grades!” he said chuckling.
“I swear, one of these days, I’m going to find a way to drag you out of here and into field duty. I bet you’ll love it.”
“Wishful thinking Jonathan. I know my limitations.”
“Bah, if you ask me, you barely tapped into your potential. Anyway, feel like joining me for some breakfast?”
**
… four days later …
William was pouring himself a nice hot cup of tea when he heard someone mentioning his name. It didn’t surprise him that someone was actually looking for him. It was that the voice belonged to a female that took him aback. He turned around after dropping a lump of sugar into his tea to find a young woman making her way through the rows of books towards him. She was dressed simply and at first glance, she looked like an ordinary girl, but there was confidence and purpose in her strides which to the observant eye, told that she was anything but ordinary.
“William? William Pratt?” She said cheerfully.
“Yes, that would be me.” He said putting his tea back down on the table beside him. “Is there something I could help you with?”
“My name is Helena. I’m the … “
“Chosen One.” William finished for her.
“Yes, that would be me. I came here to thank you for what you did for me a few days ago.”
“Oh, you need not trouble yourself with that Miss Helena. I’m glad that I was able to help.”
“Please, just call me Helena. There’s no need to be so formal.” She said sweetly.
“Very well then Helena. Is there something else I can help you with?”
She frowned slightly and William felt a little guilty for what he just said. “Uhm ... I didn’t mean to be so curt. It’s just that I rarely see anyone as important as you come down here.”
“Oh! … Well maybe you’ll be seeing more of me.”
“Is that so?”
“Well, my Watcher suggested that I need to brush up on my Latin, which I’m afraid to say is poor at best. That’s why I’m here. I heard that you were quite fluent in Latin.”
“I’m afraid I’m not as well versed as Mr. Stevens.”
“Well I’m afraid, I’ve driven Mr. Stevens away. He tried tutoring me last season and I could barely keep my eyes open for any of his lessons. I’m hoping that maybe you would be different.”
“Well I guess it wouldn’t hurt if we try it out for a week or so. Good, it’s settled then. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Very well. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She gave him one more sweet smile before she practically skipped out of the library, her light brown hair bouncing with every skip and her hazel eyes twinkling in delight.
William shook his head and wondered just what he got himself into. He could read a slight mischief in her eyes and he just hoped that she at least would take his tutoring seriously.
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!