William Holloway

I'm a devil in disguise

Three and a half years.

That's how long it had been since William had last been a free man, since he had last been able to walk the streets of Sacrosanct. That's how long William had sat in that dark cell, only allowed out to use his power until the madness cracked at his brain and left him useless until his lucidity returned to him, and even then he would be forced right back into that continuous loop. Cell, powers, madness, cell, repeat. Hours spent in delirium thinking about Sebastian, who they'd claimed to have and threatened to end if Will didn't do exactly what they told him to do. They'd described the torture they might consider inflicting on the vampire and that had been enough for William to comply to their wishes. Not that things had been easier because he'd complied. No, he still ended up with bruises and cuts and those cruel handcuffs locked around his wrists to keep his power completely neutralized. Even as he hadn't resisted, even as he'd submitted to everything that they had asked of them. Partially because of Sebastian and the fear that they would end his... he didn't know quite what to call Sebastian. He was more than a best friend, but certainly couldn't call him any more than that.

But the other part was because of her. William had tried so desperately to keep his name out of her thoughts, just in case one of his cruel captors had the ability to pull that from him. He couldn't risk her identity being given to them, to risk her being pulled into his fucking mess. But even though he could control his thoughts of her name, he could never get her out of his mind. As he laid on that hard metal cot for hours on end, it was her that he felt most guilty about. Even in Sebastian's horrid predicament (or so he thought), at least Sebastian knew where he was and what was happening. But her... she had no idea where her Dark Hunter had vanished off to. Did she wonder about him? Did she think he'd left her? Did she think him dead? Or worse, did she simply not care that he'd disappeared in the night? William had spent all of his second life on the run, refusing to make commitments for this very reason. But he couldn't ignore Sebastian or her. He couldn't deny the love he felt for both of them and in the end, they'd used that to find him.

The Hunter hardly felt comfortable on the streets of Sacrosanct. While he'd at least been able to shower and put on clothing that wasn't torn and bloody, he still looked like a spirit of his former self. His skin was still ghostly pale, those bruises from four years of handcuffs seemingly refusing to heal. He was skinner than when he'd left, his ribs entirely visible on his torso. And where he'd normally stood tall and proud, that Duke confidence shining out of him, he now trembled and tried to make himself seem as small as he possibly could. As he walked down the warehouse district, William's hand remained firm on the inside of his leather jacket, his long fingers gripped tightly around the hilt of his dagger. Unlike the last time, he refused to allow himself to let his guard down and to be taken. He would be safe, and he would go home to the people he loved. Speaking of the one he loved, he stood now outside of the warehouse that she'd lived in the last time he'd seen her. The lights were off, providing no indication that she was home, though he knocked anyway. Truly, William had no idea if the girl still lived in the warehouse, nor if she lived in Sacrosanct at all. And William could not bring himself to ask Sebastian if he knew anything. Instead, William settled himself against the brick wall, bracing himself to simply wait as long as it would possibly take for her to come home. If she came home.

It was some time later when he heard footsteps upon that otherwise silent street. William stood up taller then, prepared to defend himself should it be anyone other than the girl he was waiting for. But it was the sight of that white hair that had the man relax - well, as much as he was physically capable of relaxing these days. God, it was her. Vhalla. His Vhalla. The Hunter brightened as he caught her eye, a wide smile spreading across his features. "Hey kitten."