The Watchmaker

21 - London

"It was my fathers watch," the woman said with a gentle smile on her lips, "I have such fond memories of it."

"No need to worry Miss, I'll have it working by the end of the week," I said and turned the coppery watch in my hands before I lifted it towards my ear. There was no sound coming from it, but something else caught my interest. The young woman's heartbeat. That soft yet powerful sound turned my mouth into a desert and a thirst started to build inside my body.

My eyes traveled up to her neck, eyening that pulsating vein underneath her skin. It had been months since I last fed, but I was not going to let that distract me.

"You have an unusual accent, Mr Clocksworth," she continued with a playful smile. She must have seen me eyening her neck and made assumptions, I thought.

"I'm originally from Paris," I explained.

"Oh, Paris!" she exclaimed dreamingly, "I hear it's very romantic over there!"

"It can be, if you have someone to share your days with."

The woman leaned her head to the side and moved closer to the desk I sat behind. My small shop was elegantly decorated in dark colors and with watches and clocks all over the place. I was proud of it, and happy to have a space of my own again.

The woman moved her fingers along the edge of my desk, a playful smile still lingering on her lips, "do you? Have someone to share it with?"

I had no idea how to answer that question, I had been in love once, and I had a husband somewhere. And even though eighty years was nothing to a vampire I was sure my absence would have affected them both. Once I had waited for them to come after me. I had wanted them both to beg for my return, telling me how much they loved me – but I had been a fool to think that a prince would do anything like it.

I even waited for a messenger, for Marie or Lumiere, but no one sent word for me. No one. I guessed they hated me for leaving and that's when I had decided to move on completely and start a new life.

"You can pick it up on Monday," I muttered, unaffected by the woman's surprised frown. Reminiscing my past had put me in a grumpy mood and I wanted the human gone before I would empty her of her precious blood.

"Very well," she said and took a step towards the door leading to the busy street outside the shop. "I will see you then, Mr. Clocksworth."

I gave her a slight nod and she finally left, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I opened the back of the watch and let my tools work their magic on the cogwheels and screws. I would engulf myself in my work for hours without a break, not that my body needed it. But I knew the other shopkeepers would find me strange if I stopped eating and sleeping – so I had created some kind of routine.

I rented a small flat above the shop, a one room apartment with a bed and a small kitchen in the corner. It was all I needed – except company. A friend or a lover would have been a bonus to my story. But there was none.

Memories of Anthony haunted me. And as if he was trying to force his presence into my mind, I had started to notice a change in the vampires in London. They were not killing humans any longer, they were actually stealing cash to buy bags of blood.

A part of me wanted to investigate it, but I had convinced myself it was the old me. My old life and I should stay out of it. And I had, until today.

The small bell jingled as the door to the shop opened and closed behind the customer. I rubbed my forehead and looked at the time. Five hours had passed since the young lady had left and I was almost done with her watch.

"I'll be right with you," I said without looking up, but I didn't have to. I would recognise his perfume anywhere.

"Take your time," Anthony chuckled and walked around the shop, studying the different clocks on the shelves.

I pulled my chair out and studied him, he moved around like nothing had ever happened between us. As if eighty years apart ment nothing to him. "What do you want?" I asked and crossed my arms in front of my chest.

"I want you to come home," he stated simply and turned around to look at me.

"Why? If you've managed without me for this long, I'm sure you can handle things without me for the rest of your days."

He sighed deeply and walked towards the front door and turned the lock, the action made my pulse rise – was he going to kill me? "We managed, but not very well," he muttered and took a step towards me, "we miss you."

"I've heard gossip in the streets," muttered, avoiding the subject he was going for, "you urge vampires to drink from bags now? Calling the rest of us barbarians?"

"Everyone evolves, even vampires," he said with a smirk on his lips.

I shook my head and raised from my chair, "everything you do has a purpose Anthony. So tell me what's really going on. And don't tell me you've missed me, just be honest and say what you need from me."

"I need my master of torture to come home," he demanded. His eyes glowing red and I instantly knew my body would follow his command without hesitation, no matter what my brain or my heart felt in the matter.

So I sighed deeply and nodded my head, "as you wish, my Lord." But when I met his eyes again, there was only sadness in them. No anger.

"I have missed you," he mumbled as he walked past me. "And I expect you home before friday."

I watched as the man I had once loved walked out of the door and out into the british downpour. My heart felt empty, but then that little agitating voice started to nagg in the back of my head – He'd said he missed me, that had to mean something. 

A/N -  so eighty years later 😅 I hope you don't mind some time traveling again. And poor Clock, just as he had created a new life for himself. If you've read The Beau & the Beast you might see some connections to that story. (spoiler warning) I mean he really should have treated Bel better!