Chapter 2
A Time Slip

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Outside the mansion, where Elsa and the others sat at a table set for ten... A lavish coach remained stopped just past the gate, the Coachman tending to his horses.

"I've decided not to stay."

The man who at times, was as king, a prince, a lover, but always a lair... Left the moonlight to re-enter the coach.

"But Monsieur, what about the banquet?" The Coachman asked flabbergasted.

"Capricious fate has invited a guest of fairer mien than mine to take my chair. Hers is center stage tonight, though I shan't stay to see how she performs. Let us depart anon." The coach hurried off through the night, it's passenger relaxing into a seat cushioned against the harshness of the road.

Quietly, he spoke to himself- a hard playing to an audience of none.

"O, what upturned expectations have come at the arrival of this new guest?"

The bard had seen Elsa but for a moment, and yet, he found himself haunted by her.

"No devil can beguile men to persuasions more than she with an angel's form. Or be she one if heaven's messangers behind the horns and wings of temptation?" The coach rocked as it hit a divot in the path, sending the script in the Bard's lap tumbling to the coach flour. Visible on the cover was a signature, scrambled in fresh ink, belonging to that of one Kristoff Bjorgman.

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"Ah Xuan, if you would make us a cup of herbal tea. I think anise would be--" I interrupted Hans.

"None for me, please." Dinner had ended with no answers and me passing out of shock. Hans invited me to his suite for an explanation as promised.

So now I was sitting in his office, with an Ice pack pressed on my head. I hit my head pretty hard when I passed out. It was already forming into a bump.

"I have only one question. How do I get back? Does that door have a deadbolt? Where's the key? Is it your fingerprint?... Whatever. I don't care, I just want it open." I finally lost my cool, I was clearly frustrated and I just wanted to get out of this freaky mansion, back to America, to my friends and family.

"The door isn't locked. Opening it is easy. But it only opens under very specific conditions." Hans poured himself a cup of herbal tea and before taking a sip offered it to me, but I refused, I was already very full.

"What conditions?"

"The specifics are a bit hard to explain." Hans got up from his chair and stopped in front of an oversized hourglass. The top half was full of sand.

"It will open when all the sand in this hourglass has fallen, it's quite precise, and I rely on it's timing myself." His long callous finger traced the intricate gold design of the hourglass.

I don't like how much sand is in there.

"I see. And approximately how long does that hourglass run for?" I impatiently asked.

"It takes a month, on average." He smiled a charming smile, he was so calm like we were talking about weather.

A month?! On average?!

I accidentally pressed the ice pack on my injured head harder, making me wince in return and let out an 'ouch!'.

"Did you say it takes a month?" I once again got ready to pass out, I could already see black dots forming in my vision. I can't possibly stay here for a month, I will go insane.

"It typically takes a month for all the sand to fall. Doesn't it, Ah Xuan?" His calm posture and everything about him was getting irritating and irritating by each passing second.

"Yes, Sir Hans. Meaning she will not be able to leave for another month. Approximately." Ah Xuan monotonously stated.

Well, they can forget that!

"We're in Paris. Yes?" I hopefully asked. They were all crazy and they were all planning on making me crazy as well, I can't stay here another second.

"Yes." His one word made me sigh in relief, I let out a delighted laugh. Thank goodness!

"I'll leave through the front door. How far are we from the Louvre?"

There's no need to fixate on that strange door! Why would I need it to get back? I don't know how it became night without my knowing, but I can return to my hotel and get back to work tomorrow.

Hans returned to his seat and picked up a newspaper folded on the table.

"I'd like you to look at the date."

"Le petit parisien...?" I looked at the date. I didn't believe it. But the paper, the feel of it, the news articles. It was too real. I grew cold.

I think I'm seriously going to pass out again. My shoulders sagged and my breathing came out in small puffs, Ah Xuan was already on my side rubbing the back of my freezing hand.

"This is the morning's edition. As you've no doubt gathered from the date. We're in the nineteenth century."

I could feel my blood pressure gradually falling. Ah Xuan lent me a glass of water which I chugged down in one go.

"This is really the nineteenth century?"

On the wep of the turn-of-the-century, if this date is correct. But how could that be?

Hans kept a calm, inexorable tone.

"We're in France, but not the France you know. You arrived at this mansion by travelling through time." He elaborated. My icepack fell from my hand.

"You are kidding me."

I don't understand.

"You look like you're struggling to believe it." Hans looked as if he was going to laugh at my face.

"What do you expect? I would leave any expectations before I would believe time travel." He chuckled formally before apologizing and cleared his throat.

"It's true that a newspaper can be easily faked maybe this will convince you?" Hans moved towards a window where an old fashioned brass telescope was set up

"What an excellent Idea, Sir Hans. Seeing is believing, they say." Ah Xuan nodded his head in approval.

"It's all good fortune that, owing to the genius of one of our guests, this telescope provides an excellent view of the city." Hans brushed his big calloused hand on the telescope in nostalgia.

I let them guide me to it and peeved within. When my vision focused, I saw-

"...It's all real?"

There was no neon signs, no skyscrapers. I counted one car but saw a hundred carriages.

I am seeing it but I can't believe it.

I turned the telescope someplace closer. Gentleman in morning coats escorting ladies with bustles. Dressing up actors in a mansion was one thing, you could not dress up an entire town. I was not in the 21st century.

"Then I have traveled through time?" I mumbled to myself in defeat and disbelief. How could this be?

"There is a phrase you use in Japanese, do you recall it, Ah Xuan?" Hans turned his attention towards Ah Xuan.

"Yes, we call it a 'time slip'" He replied like a good butler he was.

"It's true, but that doesn't matter right now." I was on the verge of pulling my  hair out and they were talking about phrases and stuff. I needed to get out of here ASAP.

How do you come to terms with the impossible?

"That door connects to both the past and the present. You used it to travel here, to the past. You may have read or seen stories about time travel. But in my experience, it is neither a simple nor an everyday occurrence." Hans stated.

It's not an ANY day occurrence!

"Time Travel has very particular rules. In this case, you can not return for the next month." He finally said something that I was totally not hoping to hear at the moment.

"When all the sand in the hourglass falls?" I completed his sentence in a whisper.

"Yes. When that time comes, either you or I could open the door. But even I must follow the rules. It remains sealed to me for a month as well."

He doesn't control it?

"If the door hadn't shut, you could have passed through it exactly the way you came." Now I felt stupid, utterly stupid. Today I was knowing why curiousity killed the cat.

"But once it is closed, that particular Passage ceases to exist. And the door requires time before it can open again."

You mean I could have walked back if the door hadn't closed?... Well, that's great.

"The men you have met tonight, all of them were gathered here by the way of 'time slip'. That is why people from such diverse times and countries are all here living in my mansion." I looked at him shocked as I put two and two together.

If what he is saying is true, then the men I met at a dinner- could they be real?

So many famous names, names from history, many known throughout the world.

"I can see you still have some doubts. But I assure you, you met the real Merlin, Eric Hawkins and the real Jackson."

It's not unreasonable to assume that they are all real, now that time travel is out of the question and yet it's unbelievable!

"And who are you, Hans, that you have collected some of history's greatest figures to live here in your mansion?" I looked at him over steepled fingers, this ieffable gentlemen who only said that people CALL him Count Hans Isles.

"I'm not trying to evade your question, but in truth, it's getting quite late. Please, stay the night. Ah Xuan will prepare a room. In fact, you are welcome to stay here for the entire month." He was being generous, and he looked more than happy to help.

"For the night, perhaps but-"

"You do realise that you cannot return to your time for another month, don't you?" Hans interrupted in-between since he already knew what I was going to say next.

Yes. And I have come to terms with that.

"I am an experienced traveler. I can make my own way. I have done it all my life." I looked at them with confidence.

Ah Xuan fixed me with a severe look.

"I believe you'll find that difficult. This is France at the turn-of-the-century. How do you intend to 'make your way?'" Why was Ah Xuan always looked at me with that severe look? Probably because I invaded their 'Home sweet Home'.

"Of course I don't know that yet." It was true I did not know much about this period. I didn't even know what currency they currently used.

But I'm uneasy here, too. There's some danger here that no one's telling me about.

I couldn't admit my suspicion outright.

"I don't want to impose." I reasoned out.

"You're not imposing, I assure you." Hans looked more than ready to take me in.

"It's just that you're offering me so much and asking for nothing in return."

And that scares me the most.

"If that's your concern, I've been thinking that Ah Xuan could use a hand around the house."

I realized what Hans was suggesting. Ah Xuan was listening without commenting.

Assist Ah Xuan as a housekeeper? A job could mean mobility and security.

Regardless, I had two choices now.

Risk spending a month in a house full of supposed time travelers who most definitely haven't told me everything. Or run for it and risk being penniless on the streets of turn-of-the-century France at night.

... I know which I'd choose.

"I accept. I suppose that makes us co-workers, Ah Xuan. For now."

It's the only option that guarantees me a place to sleep tonight. Whatever danger may be here, the streets will be worse. Hans and Ah Xuan have already confided in me. I'll trust them. For now.

Ah Xuan looked distinctly uninterested at the prospect of having my assistance.

"You may continue to address me as Xuan. I will support Sir Hans' decision, however, I must warm you that I'm very strict." Like I don't know that? I mentally rolled my eyes.

"I can work with that." I gave him a tight smile.

Housekeeper might feel like a step down from my previous job, but I choose to view this as an extended vacation. I'll be back to work in a month. And maybe I'll add a history section to my blog, too.

I had been lost and confused. Now the ground at my feet felt a little more stable.

"I'm pleased we've come to an agreement. I wasn't able to answer all your questions tonight, but we'll continue tomorrow. I also have something important to tell you, but that, too, can wait for morning." I looked into those eyes, those green eyes I first saw at the musée, and strangely found myself content with that.

"I will look forward to it, Hans."

"I'll inform the others that you will be staying with us and are to be treated with courtesy. Two of them did not join us tonight, but I expect you'll have the opportunity to meet them soon." Hans sat back in his seat and grabbed his now cold cup of tea but he still drank it like it was the best thing in the world.

More famous names from history?

"Two more, you said?" I asked perplexed.

"Yes. One of them is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third."

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third is here too?" I was surprised and kind of happy to know as well.

The first female leader and warrior of Berk who saved the whole village from a calamity, alone with her bravery and led hundreds of wars.

"That's a relief. I was afraid I'd be the only woman here." I smiled genuinely for the first time after I came here.

It's been nothing but men so far.

"A woman? Hiccup is a man. Though I can see why you'd make that mistake." Hans chuckled, he put his leg on his other knee and clasped his hands together.

"Are we talking about the same person?" I was once again left confused.

"As to that, truth and history have curious way of becoming distorted in the telling."

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He heard voices that other couldn't hear. Voices that suided him. Tonight, a new voice urged him to look out the window.

His beautiful forest green eyes were almost hidden by his messy chocolate brown hair.

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third looked out at the cresent moon and heard it's laughter.

As he watched, it morphed from a smile to a bow, bent to loose an arrow, from a bow, it morphed to blade, arcing mid-slice.

"La Luna is laughing."

His voice faded into the night; the moon's mocking did not.

"There's a curse on this night."

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"Besides Hiccup, there's one other who lives with us here in the mansion-"

Hans was cut off by a dull thump, like something heavy falling against the door.

"That's probably him, I'm sorry to trouble you, Elsa. But could you get the door?" He requested.

"Alright."

I opened the door to find no one there.

Is the last man invisible?

When I stepped into the hallway, I finally saw him. He was lying slumped against the wall.

What's he doing there? Is he sleeping?

"Excuse me?" I wondered how he could be comfortable sleeping like that. He cracked an eye open.

Then he pulled me into his lap.

I wasn't angry. I was in another world. A sweet-smelling paradise of brown-eyed angels with low, lyrical voices-

"...Never seen you here before. Thought I'd wait patiently until you were done. Took so long I fell asleep. So, you're the one he was talking to?" Spoke a hoarse, deep voice, it led me to another world.

He wasn't letting go. I didn't want him to. I knew he'd ask me a question, but no answer came to mind.

"Hmm?"

As if waking up from the dream I was still in, he realized what he'd done and let go of me. He chuckled warmly and murmured an apologetic 'scusa' in a provincial Italian accent.

"Do I surprise you?"

"Yes, you did." I think I'm still somewhere else.

"Heh. Your words, they match the looks on your face. That's rare." He helped me to my feet, and I caught the pleasant aroma of tobacco lingering on his clothes.

"And here he is. That last of our residents." Hans stood in front of his with his hands in his dress pants' pockets.

"Hmm? We introducing ourselves now? I'm Sinbad."

Only God knew I wanted to pass out again, He was The Sinbad. He was calling himself The Sinbad. The great ingenious pirate, artist and inventor of all time. But right now he was looking nothing like a pirate but a handsome Greek god, with his personality of six feet something height, broad shoulders, beautiful soft brown hair and a goatee. He looked like a charmer with his enchanting brown eyes filled with mischief.

"Along with Ah Xuan and myself, nine of the greatest figures in history reside in this mansion." Hans continued to speak, but hello! I'm still somewhere else I guess.

Sinbad ran a gloved hand through his hair. His voice was still heavy with that rough, sleepy quality, "I don't know what happened, but your luck ran out for you to have wound up in a place like this."

"Why do you say?"

"...Simply put, cara mia, I don't think you're going to enjoy it here."

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Finally, I'm alone.

I sank onto the bed in what was to be my room. I took my stuffed toy out of my handbag which I carried almost everywhere and hugged it against my chest, weird habit I know. I just love my stuffed snowman so much.

Alone with my stuffed snowman Olaf and my thoughts, it was easy to imagine that this was a dream, And I was back in my hotel.

"If only it was a dream." I mumbled in distress.

I'm willing to believe I travelled back in time. But I cannot believe I had dinner with a bunch of time-traveling artists and scientists and musicians and-!

I tried to recount everyone I'd met.

Eric Hawkins and his younger brother Jim Hawkins. One paints masterpieces, the other sells them. One is nice, the other... I'm not so sure of. They seem close though.

The two authors. Sir Flynn Rider, who created 'Sherlock Holmes', and Aladdin , who wrote 'No Longer Human'. The class flirt and the class clown? They both seemed to want my attention.

Was Sir Tadashi Hamada really that shy? He wouldn't look me in the eye. I can't even picture Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the third. I wonder what she... I mean, he's really like?

"Heh. Your words, they match the look on your face. That's rare."

How did I so lose myself around Sinbad? And what exactly was he thinking?

"...As if the banquet wasn't bad enough."

Merlin LeClair. His music was so lively and fun. But he seemed cold and empty inside.

And of course I can't forget...

"I'll answer your questions later. You need to escape before the others find you."

Jackson Overland Frost. He was trying to rescue me, I'm sure of it. From what?

I couldn't picture all of them lying about who they were. And my instincts told me they were telling the truth.

Besides, what would Hans and Ah Xuan gain from lying to me? I'm not rich or influential. There's no benefit to it.

Then it's all real? As real as this place is?

I slipped off my jacket, kicked off my shoes, and took out my earrings.

Enough thinking!

"It's time for bed." I slipped under the covers and hugged my stuffed snowman right before shutting my eyes. Despite my internal clock still reading afternoon, I was somehow able to sleep.

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I woke up to the soft crumple of the thick duvet, followed by the creak of the bed-frame.

What is that?

I froze. Someone else was in the room with me. They were on the bed.

"Who's there?" My breathing was ragged, my heart was thumping in my chest and I was afraid it was going to pop out of my ribcage anytime soon.

"...." No answer came in return, just movements beside me.

It isn't safe here at all!

I rolled out of bed and sprang to my feet. A pair of arms grabbed me from behind and pulled me back onto the bed with them. They were on top of me, holding me down.

"Stop!" Strong hands pinned mine to the sheets. My legs were trapped under theirs.

"Don't move." Their breath was on my ear. My body tensed. Sharp teeth sank into my neck.

It stung only a moment. No, not even that long. What I felt couldn't be described as pain.

It feels... So hot.

I couldn't move my limbs. They weren't under my power anymore. Heat flickered across my vision like a desert mirage. Each warm breath billowing over my neck filled me with insatiable longing.

Someone... Bit me...?

No liquor could have intoxicated me as quickly. Sheer pleasure. Spreading from my neck. Traveling throughout my body. I groaned in a voice laden with ecstasy.

Did this voice belong to me? Except I knew it did. Oh, I felt it to my very core. A slow throbbing pulse, robbing me of reason.

I have to... Snap out of it...!

My lashes fluttered. My eyes were rolling back. Suddenly, I caught sight of something. Someone had spilled rose petals on the bed's white sheets. But they weren't rose petals. And they had come from me.

That's blood... My blood!

Before I let go of consciousness and slipped into the void, I heard a man's voice.

"I want it all. Your body, your heart... And your destiny."

NO!

I scrambled out of bed, clutching my neck. There was no puncture wound there. No blood. I spun, looking around the room. Empty. No trace of the man who'd bitten me.

"...There's no one here."

I have never had such a real dream. No, that's not true. When I first arrived at the mansion- that dream felt just as real.

My fingers were cold. I was shaking, my throat was painfully dry.

"I should... get some water."

Retracing my steps from dinner, I found the kitchen. It was lightened with electric lamps. Ah Xuan was up, washing dishes. After that nightmare, I sighed in relief to see him.

"Is something the matter?" He asked at my sudden appearance.

"...yes, could I have some water please?"

Ah Xuan poured me a glass. And he listened patiently as I told him about the waking dream- or vision- I had when I arrived.

"...And I had another dream just now."

"Tell me about the dream." I told him about the man in my room. How he'd held me down and bitten my neck.

"...Just like a vampire would." Talking about it helped. In fact, I was laughing as I finished the story.

"Dreams can be so realistic, even when they are about the most unbelievable things." Ah Xuan was quiet now, and I wondered if he was tired of me pratting on.

"Thanks for listening to my silly dream. I hope you don't think I'm crazy for dreaming about vampires." I smiled embarrassed. I don't know what possessed me that I told him about my dreams or visions whatever they were.

"I don't think you're crazy, nor do I believe it was just a silly dream." He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his back against the counter.

"You don't think it was silly?" I was surprised.

"No. Indeed, it's a good sign." I felt a pang of unease at his words.

"My bad dream is a good sign?" I was even more confused now.

"I believe you saw that dream because you're here in this mansion."

"You're not making sense." I shook my head and placed my hands on the counter, he sighed with his raised brows.

"The dream serves as a warning... That you are to give them neither your body nor your heart."

"Them?" His words gave me a weird feeling, a strange fear perhaps. My sixth sense was on high alert and giving me red signals.

"The residents of this mansion. For you see, everyone you've met tonight- they are exactly what you saw in your dream. They are all vampires."

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The chapter ends here! Phew! I know took me long enough and I am very sorry for that. Anyhoo, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and please do not forget to hit the star, it keeps my sugar level on check 😂😂

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▶️ SiL3nT KilL3r 🦇