BLAKE

I opened my eyes, even though the last thing I remembered was closing them. I stood by the wall like a piece of the furniture with a plant in my face. Swiping it away, I stumbled onto the floor, surrounded by spools of fabric, hundreds of yards of it stacked by the wall. I got out of the way of the men bustling about as they sewed fabric and constructed huge crinoline cages and the boning for corsets.

The front door opened, and I moaned, "Oh, no."

Henry walked through the door, taking off his leather gloves. Like last time, he wore mostly reds and golds, but this time it was all covered up by a thick black cloak. He walked to a table, covered with all kinds of gloves and neckties. A man on top of a raised platform waved to him, "Ah! Henry, glad to see you. Hope you're doing well."

"Very well, thank you. How's your daughter? I heard Elizabeth had a boy, is that right?" Henry asked, everything about him being so soft and gentle. Even the way he carried his gloves appeared to be of the lightest touch. His voice wasn't any louder than it needed to be either

As they carried on their conversation, I followed behind Henry. I examined his face, his hair and even the way he walked. "Somehow," I spoke to myself, "we're related. You're my great, great, great—I honestly don't know how many times great grandfather, I guess? Maybe? I don't know... but we don't look anything alike. Other than curly hair and yet..." I shook my head. "You don't seem like you're a wizard. You seem so human, which doesn't make sense. The Winslows have always been witches."

Henry thanked the man again for his well wishes and wandered to a display of hats. The door opened again, and Henry straightened up, fixing his posture. He pretended to be aloof, but the corners of his lips trembled as a smile attempt to wiggle into the light. I rolled my eyes.

It was Nicholas again.

He strolled inside, instantly spotting Henry and smiling. He acted all coy and browsed the other side of the shop, until they just happened to meet in the middle. Now, I followed Nicholas. "And I guess you're related to Danny. You, I get it." Faintly, Nicholas looked so much like Eitienne. Or I guess, Eitienne looked like him, which meant Danny did too.

"And you're definitely not a vampire," I told Nicholas as if he could hear me and I wanted to be proved wrong. In this time period, vampires didn't have the luxury of enchanted items or potions that would shield them from burning up in the sun. A vampire walking the sunny streets of London in the 16th century was suicidal. "There's something I'm missing here."

Frustrated, I hopped up on the table and held my cheeks, watching the two dorks dance around each other in the shop. Henry would brush by Nicholas with a faint little smile. Nicholas would lean around Henry on purpose just to grab something random. I rolled my eyes. Knowing that they were our ancestors, it was kind of like watching my grandparents be disastrous flirts.

"Nicholas!" The man from before greeted Nicholas. "How's the new songs goin?"

"I'm about to hit a breakthrough, I think. If I can just find my muse again."

"Good luck with that, Nick."

"Then, there's Edward," I said, continuing to open more doors than close them. "How does he fit into all of this? And where's Iggy? Why am I having these dreams? Are they trying to tell me something? Henry? Are you trying to tell me something?"

Eventually, Henry ended up examining the table I was sitting on and Nicholas joined him. "Excuse me, my good sir," Nicholas nudged Henry, but Henry continued to compare one handkerchief to another as if they were more interesting than the tall, dark and handsome man beside him. "Have you visited this shop prior to today?"

"Yes, I'm quite fond of it and its people."

"They do good work here?"

"The very best."

"My, good work and a visually pleasing clientele. I'm an occupant for life."

Henry cracked first, laughing behind his hand. I sighed. Yeah. Definitely couldn't see how we were related. Comparably, he was the prince and I was the pauper.

"Will I see you tonight at the ball?" Nicholas asked in hushed tones.

"Yes. Edward won't be home until tomorrow. Would you play me something?" Henry placed his hand against Nicholas' pinky.

"I'd only take requests from you... it's good to see you." I've never seen someone so happy and yet, so unbelievably sad. "Can I steal you away for little while?"

"No, but you can join me on my other errands. There's a book the butcher, Thatcher found for me."

"I heard what you said, but I don't understand it. Why is a butcher giving you a book?"

"Because I mentioned that I was looking for it and he said he'd get it done."

"Didn't the candlestick maker's wife bring you muffins to the house as well? How do you get these people to do strange things for you?"

"You make it sound so nefarious. People are more than their occupation, Nicholas. If I was just as narrow minded about you as you are about others, I'd think all your hands were good for were plucking a lute."

"Pray tell Henry Winslow, what are these hands also good for?"

I covered my face, unable to watch this for another moment. Sitting here was the biggest mistake of my life. My dream life. Peeking through my fingers, I was surprised to find Henry and Nicholas nowhere in sight. The clothing shop was gone, and the sun had said goodnight. Looking around, I was perched by a blazing fire in a room as grand as the Bellerose castle.

As my eyes adjusted, I jumped to find Ignacio lying across the couch, staring blankly at the fire. It wasn't just that he looked bored, he appeared to be lifeless. He was dressed down with a loose cotton shirt, but still wore tight pants and boots.

Examining him, I took a shot in the dark, "Can you hear me?"

Ignacio didn't respond.

"Ah! Ignacio!"

Barreling into the room, Henry made Ignacio jump and scramble to sit up. "Henry? How did the market treat you?"

"Very well. Actually," Henry grinned nervously and took the other side of the couch. "I bought you something. Not knowing much about you, I had to make a guess of what you'd like, but I think you're the type to like this sort of thing..."

"I'm almost nervous. What impression have I given you?"

"Here," Henry pulled a book from bag and handed it to the demon.

Ignacio raised it as if he never seen a book before. "A book of sonnets?" He blinked at the binding, opening it and letting the pages fly by. Maybe he thought it was a prank, that maybe nothing would be inside. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. I hope you like it."

He laid the book on his lap, but didn't let it go. His grip tightened. "I'm not... It's impossible for me to simply take things without giving something in return. What would you like?"

"Nothing. I'm serious."

"As am I... Edward told you I'm not normal, correct?"

"Yes."

"He's right. When I say I can't just take it, I mean it."

"Okay..." Henry nodded. He thought upon the matter for a few moments, before coming up with an idea. He smiled, placing his hand on Ignacio's arm. Ignacio looked down at the gesture as if his arm was going to suddenly break off. "How about you choose your favorite sonnet and then, read it to me."

Ignacio's brow narrowed. "That doesn't sound like a fair trade at all."

Shyly, Henry bowed his head. "I was not given the luxury of learning how to read myself." He looked up, his smile returning. "But I do love to listen. So, it would be nice. Truly."

Someone chuckled and it wasn't anyone by the fire. I jumped alongside Henry, snapping a surprised look at a man by one of the doors. He walked out of the shadows with his arms crossed as he held a crystal glass of some dark liquid. He was a tall man, taller than average in this time period with a light brown beard and tussled hair.

Henry tensed up recoiling from Ignacio, but it was too late. The man's eyes were pinned on Henry's face as he took a swig of his drink. A horrible snicker trickled out of his mouth, making my stomach twist and tighten. "You certainly move fast, don't you? I'm gone for a week and you're cozying up to the help?"

"Edward?" Henry found his voice, trying to keep it light and nonchalant, but I could tell, even he knew there wasn't any point trying. He did anyways with a smile. "You're back early."

"Sorry to disappoint you. Obviously, I've broken up the fun."

"No, no, not at all, my darling" Henry stood, eyeing Ignacio for a moment as he swept across the room. "I was just—"

"I know what you were doing. You're not smart enough to be sly about it."

Henry didn't wither. He just held onto that sunny smile for dear life and got out of his seat. I'd never be able to do it. Even now I was cemented to this chair, bogged down by the tension crowding the room. Henry even walked right up the man that to me, looked sharp to the touch as if he was covered in thorns and if Henry touched him in any of the wrong places, he'd be pricked.

"Let's not fight. You're home again and that's wonderful news." Henry slid his hands up Edward's arm, bringing himself up to reach Edward's lips. They kissed and I could hardly watch. It made me sick to my stomach, while Ignacio just stared forward. He didn't move. Didn't breathe. Just watched the fire dance with empty black eyes.

Edward's thumb caressed Henry's cheek before sliding his hand down Henry's neck. That thumb circled his chin and in the next instant, his hand was around Henry's throat.

I jumped to my feet and yet, still frozen in place.

"Edward!" Henry croaked, snatching Edward's wrist, but he didn't have the strength to pry him off. Edward just squeezed harder and my own throat closed. Touching my neck, I couldn't feel Edward's hands there, but something was crushing my windpipe, and I choked.

"Iggy," I snapped through gasps of air. "Do something!"

"Henry," Edward spoke calmly, his voice so deep we were drowning in it. "You're a descent liar. I'm not quite convinced."

Unable to argue, Henry struggled with Edward's arm, pulling and yanking. It didn't seem natural the way Edward's arm didn't budge. Not even a little. All the blood rushed to my head and I gasped, collapsing to my knees.

"It's time we went to bed, don't you agree?"

A tear leaked out from the corner of my eye as the panicked gripped me. My heart raced, screaming at me for relief. I needed to breathe. I needed one little sliver of air or I was going to pass out.

Edward slammed Henry into the nearest wall and the pain exploding in the back of my head knocked me sideways. I dropped at Ignacio's feet, seeing only the stars.

#

Author's Note

Another dream! And not the last either ;) We've finally gotten an introduction to Edward. My apologies. Lol. And a little glimpse of Iggy from the past. How do they compare? And not to worry. Our regularly scheduled fun will be back in the next chapter~

Thank you again for 1k subscribers. I really appreciate it. Don't forget to like the chapter and tell me what you think!