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Thinking it was some sort of magic act, the tourists applauded, smiling and whooping! enthusiastically.
Straightening his leather jacket with a wry smile, he bowed in thanks. Checking his topknot was still in place, he dived into the crowds.
He glanced down at his phone. 2100. He would have to rejoin Amberson so they could report to The Union in Limbo and fill in the necessary paperwork for the Blood Hound attack. Moving along Piccadilly, he was about to slip into the shadows when he realised that he'd never walked it like this. Normally, he was chasing Lost Souls down alleyways and backstreets or using his Umbrageous Teleportation to jump from place to place through the shadows. It made a pleasant change, soaking in the atmosphere and seeing the window displays gearing up for Christmas.
Slowing his pace, he decided a couple more minutes wouldn’t hurt. Lily had probably chased the Blood Hound halfway across London by now.
He’d passed The Ritz and was approaching the main thoroughfare. It was then he saw her stepping out of a building.
Erica.
He froze, caught unawares, his mind reeling in wonder and confusion.
What?!
A man walked into him, letting out a torrent of curses. Ducking out of the way with an apology, Nathaniel kept to the side.
Is today the day we meet?
She was with two friends, smiling and listening excitedly to their chatter.
He could hardly believe it was her! After all these years!
But it was definitely her. He'd know those curves and those lips anywhere. God, he’d missed the feel of them against his. The taste of her. It was as if she'd stepped straight out of his memory and into his reality. He smelled the air, his nostrils flaring at her familiar scent: jasmine and vanilla. If he still had a heart, it would be pounding against his chest right now.
Time travel was a mind-boggling thing. But one he was familiar with, thanks to Jade and Future Erica.
Future Erica had visited him much over the past centuries. Hell, if it hadn’t been for her, he wouldn’t be who he was now. She was the one who’d nursed him as the bite from the Strigoi took hold, killing him and transforming him into a vampire. Over the years, she’d taught him English and believed he was more than the monster his family treated him like, locking him away and using him to their advantage. She believed in him. This belief led him to become a Soul Gatherer and sort out the Lee Family’s illicit dealings in Seoul’s underworld. She saw the real him, yet she loved him unconditionally. She saw his potential and gave him hope.
She had always been vague about dates to avoid any ripples in SpaceTime. But he knew things happened during the winter of her second year at university. That they would meet at Christmas at her parent's house in the countryside. Future Erica had revealed that much between their kisses.
Which meant now couldn’t be the right Time.
“???!” He snarled in frustration, rolling his shoulders to ease out the knots of tension there.
Until then, whenever ‘then’ was, Present Erica didn’t know about him or the supernatural world. Hell, she didn’t even know of her own abilities to manipulate Time. But she would. One day. Just like he knew they would meet and fall in love. It wouldn’t be smooth. Future Erica had warned him about that. That she would be with Michael when they first meet on this timeline. But he knew that they would end up spending the rest of their days together.
They were destined to be together.
It was fine. He’d waited so long, he could wait a bit longer. He just needed to be patient.
Chapter Six
Erica
“You ready, Erica?” Joslin asked, closing her locker.
“Yep!”
Together, the three friends exited, filing down the stairs and out of the main entrance. Joslin was excitedly telling them of an audition she had coming up.
It was only when they stepped out into the chilly night air that Erica's hand flew to her head.
“Damn! My hat!” she exclaimed. “You two carry on without me. I'll see you tomorrow.”
Parting ways, Erica smiled apologetically to the security guard and retraced her steps to the staffroom. Opening her locker, she spied the fluffy purple item straight away.
There it was! Exactly where I’d left it…
