Douce Dépendouce

Chapter 1

— Warning —
• This story contains mature context that some viewers may find uncomfortable. If you aren't comfortable with mature text, I would recommend skipping this. •

Heading up to Nilmers Highland, the cold intensed. It was a late winter evening and I had been putting this off all day, more like months. Ever since I first came here to Jorvik, ever since I met him, that's when it all started. I remembered finding Zee down at the dock at Moorland Beach, with the small note and horse treats that were with her, that's when it all started. I led her back and that's when I had first met him, the well known mystery man, Ydris. He was a charming french-man who had later turned out to be a Pandorian, after he had betrayed us and the Soul Riders. When he had kept Concord hidden from us once we had freed Anne, and the portal he had made to keep us away from the circus, along with the time where I had to build a Pandoric Time clock, the longsem look on his face as I entered with it in the back of my mind. Ever since then, the Soul Riders and anyone really avoided him. With all the tricks up his sleeve and his charming manor, he was easy to fall for. For me and him, this started way back when we first met. At first I thought he was just being a charming man who had a flirty manor, but things were different from that. Even though he spoke to everyone in a unique way, he took that farver with me. Oftentimes, I would feel him staring at me, and make comments or call me flirty names. I thought nothing of it, but my trips to him became more frequent, expasuly this winter. He had a charming manner that I found I couldn't stay away from, and I had tried to ignore myself from fancying him, but there was no way I could. I felt intimidated and underpowered when I was around him, at least in a way of awkward tension.

A few months back, he started to get touchy. I remembered the first time he did so, the panic, but yet, the feeling of nerves and butterflies made those nerves disappear. He was charming, and he knew that, he knew I fancied him, at least that's what he read through my mind.

Moving out of my thoughts, I neared ner Nilmers. I slowed Hu to a walk, nerves settling in my stomach. I had come tonight to tell him that he needed to stop, to stop this 'flirting' and his charming behaviour towards him. We couldn't be anything and neither would we survive. He played with Pandorian magic, something dangerous to Jorvik. He could easily be using me as a way to get information if he really knew what I thought about him.

As Hu walked up, the bright 'Circus' light on top of his tent stood out the most. I looked up at it, a cold breeze blowing in my face. I zipped my jacket up more, bringing Hu to a stop as I looked for Yidris. I didn't want to dismount Hu, I knew it would be harder to say it to Ydris's face from on the ground. I looked around, seeing no sign of him. I sighed, my breath visible in the air, thinking that he was asleep. It wasn't that late, but maybe the shorter days and longer nights got to him. I felt my heart pound as I looked around, deciding to wander around before I left. I dismounted Hu and carefully tied him up to the nearby wagon. I then headed towards the Circus tent, nervous as I pulled back the purple curtain. Inside, there he stood, speaking in a harsh tone to Xin, his circus master. I couldn't make out what he was saying since it was in French, but I still listened. Once Ydris gave Xin a final word, Xin headed off to the back of the tent, searching through stuff. I sighed, deciding to head home.

Just as I was about to do so, Ydris turned around, his eyes landing on mine.

"Ah! Ma cherie, you're here!" He said, his body now turned towards me.

I froze, looking at him. Once again he gave me a small devilish smile, his eyes looking me over. I swallowed, my eyes lingering on his as he looked me over once more.

"You're just in time to help me and dear Xin," he continued, walking towards me, my eyes getting lost in his powerful walk. I couldn't help but look over him as he walked towards me, his body moving with power but yet calmness. I didn't know where to look as he stood in-front of me, outstretching his hand to my shoulder. I felt a shiver down my spine as he did so, his deep gaze sucking me in. "Why so tense, dove? Is it the dark, cold, night that's taking advantage of you?"