Chapter 3: A Strange Encounter

Both boys turned towards the stairs and the source of the playful voice. Something about it had made the hairs along the back of Jasper’s neck stand on end, although part of it was the shock of almost being taken out by the slamming door. It was suddenly hard to breath.

The room fell into silence then the steady sound of footsteps sounded somewhere above them. Jace swallowed and took a few slow steps towards the door as the hollow knocking grew ever louder.

The light in the room suddenly brightened, a flash like lighting in a storm, blinding the two boys momentarily when the darkness returned.

Straining his eyes against the shadow Jasper now saw the figure of a man at the base of the stairs, or at least what he thought to be a man. A thin shaft of moon light crept through the large windows of the living room as the clouds parted, illuminating the room and the figure in a sliver glow.

The figure wore the whitest of white suits, not a mark to be seen, that clung tightly to its impossibly tall, thin frame. A purple cravat was tied around its neck which matched the ribbon tied around the base of its high top hat.

But the figure wasn’t human. Its skin glowed a most fiery shade of crimson and its long black claws gripped tightly to the hilt of a simple lacquered cane. The creature’s eyes were black pearls.

“Greetings” it grinned revealing a set of glinting, shark white teeth, “do pardon the intrusion. I had hoped to leave you two some more time to get acquainted and I don’t customarily show myself until after…you know, but this is the first time one of you lot has attempted to skip out before the magic hour” its voice was light and carefree, much like the way it was dressed but as the creature’s gaze crossed the room to Jasper he was suddenly paralysed by it.

The creature took a long legged step that brought it almost to the centre of the room. Neither boy dared speak, Jace only taking a few more steps back until he was standing protectively in front of Jasper.

In any other situation Jasper would have openly protested to being protected in such a way but looking over Jace’s shoulder at the creature who was still eyeing him he was glad for the larger boy between them.

The creature appeared to roll its eyes although it was hard to tell without it having any pupils.

“Perhaps my involvement was not needed after all, you both seem to be getting along swimmingly already” it said.

 There was a long pause during which no one spoke and the tension in the room steadily rose. “I do not wish to pressure anything but time is moving swiftly away. Please, someone say something. I am not here to purely hear the sound of my own voice”

Jasper swallowed loudly, his mouth too dry to speak.

“What…who are you?” Jace said staring straight into the creature’s eyes. It was clear to Jasper how afraid Jace really was but was impressed by how well he hid it.

“I am he” it said clearly, its voice resonating around the room. “The one to answer all of your many questions that are sure to come. Although I suppose I could also be she.” It said thoughtfully suddenly speaking very fast as though it had far too much on its mind, each thought racing to be the first said. “Or it? Now that is a conundrum and contradictory. Would a man still be a man even if it is not? Is a man still a man if they do not exist or is it because I live in the minds of men that I am one? But female others have seen me. I suppose it does not truly matter what I am, unless that matters to you in which case I must then discover or decide what I truly am or after all I--"

“Please, stop” Jasper gasped just listening to its ramblings was enough to settle his mind on the danger it possessed enough so that he could speak again. “What do you mean by you don’t exist in the minds of men…? Or whatever you said. You mean a hallucination?” Jasper peered to look at Jace over his shoulder. “It’s not just me? You can see him too?” Jace nodded.

“Dear, a hallucination?” it sounded almost hurt. “I assure you that I am as real as you are if not then perhaps more so. Depends on how you define real. By flesh and bone then no I am not real and you are most certainly more real than I, but if you define it by the strength of ones soul than I am more real than both of you” it said proudly pointing a red clawed finder at each of them and smiling smugly to itself as though already certain which way it defined real.

The two boys stared at each other completely lost for words and captivated by the strange and confusing white clad figure in front of them.

The creature looked at its watch, frowned and tossed its cane to the other hand. “Will you look at how close it is to the magic hour. You, my friend” it pointed its cane at Jace. “Are very lucky to get here at all, even if you were cutting it close” Jace looked down at the ground solemnly.

“I’m sorry” he said quietly. “There were some…complications that got in the way”

“I’m sure there were but there is no need to apologise to me. If you did not make it then it would have been your head on the line, and his” it added nodding to Jasper. Jasper didn’t quite understand what this had to do with him but the way the conversation was going was filling him with hope once lost.

Perhaps there was still time. It hadn’t said it was too late after all.

Jace seemed to make the connection only a moment after Jasper did. He took a step forward.

“You mean I’m not late?” He said his voice rising hopefully. “I didn’t miss it. I will meet my soul mate after all?”

The creature slowly nodded and made a face like ‘Yes that’s what I’ve been saying.’

“But wait, I thought it was midnight when we would meet our partners” Jasper said his brow furrowed in confusion as he struggled to understand what was happening. The creature frowned and looked down at its watch again confused before sudden realization spread over its face.

“I assume you are going by the clock in the hall above. That hasn’t been right for years. You still have two minutes before midnight” it said. “I should go, it’s not my place to bear witness to this moment.” It turned quickly and took the stars two at a time. “Take all the time you want, I don’t mind waiting. Come to the attic when you’re done, and don’t have too much fun” it called back over its shoulder before disappearing upstairs, leaving the two boys alone in the dark.