Through Time

„The revolution settled down after that event. However, many were killed and diseases started to spread.” He halted in his movements, letting his gaze wander over the student’s heads. A small smile appeared on his handsome face as he noted that everyone was busily writing. The young tutor really enjoyed lecturing this particular class. They were very interested and kept quiet the whole time, listening carefully.

Teaching history wasn’t only a job, but his hobby as well. He loved everything about it, the good and the bad events. It was thrilling to have an audience like this current class.

“We’ll stop here.” Nichkhun said, checking the clock. “I’ll see you next Monday.” He said while walking towards the podium. After grabbing his bag and jacket, the bell declared that the course was indeed over. While the students passed him and wished the tutor a pleasant evening he nodded happily.

Today was a good day, Khun could feel that. Not only did the course go well, but also the whole day was perfect all in all. He felt his heart skipping a beat as he realised that maybe today he would be able to go on a journey again.

.­..­­-…_..­.­-…

A few hours later Nichkhun was finally tucked into his warm and cosy bed, ready to fall asleep. Just thinking about travelling through time tonight was exciting. Since this excitement wasn’t really helping with falling asleep, he got up again and made himself a cup of tea.

“You need to calm down, Khun…” The man muttered to himself. He knew exactly why he was looking forward to travel again.

Nichkhun was a dreamwalker, someone who could travel through time during sleep. The young man’s mother was able to do that, and so was he. Even though he couldn’t choose where he was sent, he still loved every century he ended up in. The pro of this ability was that no one could see the dreamwalker. They were invisible to people. He on the other hand could see, hear and smell everything. The tutor was like a ghost that could swell in the charm of the past. It was the perfect ability for a history fanatic like him. Or maybe Khun loved history to this extent because he had this particular gift.

A week ago the man awoke in London, 1888.

He was leisurely strolling down the streets of London after attending a rather big party. It was very dark and not many dared to walk the dimly lit streets at such a late hour. At least he only saw men and even they seemed to hurry. It probably was because of ‘Jack the Ripper’ who had been active in 1888.

Khun was deep in his thoughts, walking past an alley, when he suddenly heard a whimper. Turning his head in surprise he tried to see something. However, the alley was almost pitch-black. At first he only stood there, trying to make sure he had heard right. When another whimper followed, the man decided to go and check if everything was alright. No one was able to see him, so he was in no danger. However, he also figured that he couldn’t provide help either.

Trying to blend this concern out, the tall man slowly walked down the alley while squinting his eyes.

He stopped once he noticed a man pressing a woman against the wall, the moonlight slightly shining down on them. If it hadn’t been for that, he wouldn’t have even noticed them.

Nichkhun was just about to scream at the man, out of instinct, when he suddenly noticed that the attacker was standing there slumped against the woman. When he carefully got closer, his eyes widened. The woman was actually the man’s neck.

“Are you kidding me?” The time traveller breathed out, trying to process what he was seeing. “Vampires can’t be real…” He muttered to himself and nearly stumbled once he locked eyes with the woman.

“You…”

.­..­­-…_..­.­-…

She had called him. He wasn’t sure what she had intended to say to him. Ever since this particular travel a week ago, he was thinking about her all the time. Had she really looked him in the eyes? Or has he only imagined it?
 

Two days ago he had travelled again. He had tried to convince himself that he wasn’t looking for her, however, he had. Sadly she hadn’t been there.

Tonight would be no expectation. He wouldn’t meet her again. The chance to do so was as possible as a raindrop surviving in the desert.

After placing the empty tea cup inside the sink, he slowly walked back into the bedroom again.

“Even if I meet her, it doesn’t matter.” He told himself and with that he finally drifted off to sleep.

.­..­­-…_..­.­-…

He felt a light breeze of air ghosting over his face before he opened his eyes. Looking up into the light blue sky that was sprinkled with white and fluffy clouds, Khun instinctively asked himself curiously where he had landed, especially in which time.

Sitting up he noticed that he had awoken in a typically English garden. Looking to his right the man noticed a few trees that lined a path. The sun was pretty hot and he was sure that beneath those trees it would be cooler. Getting up and walking towards them, the tutor noticed a person sitting beneath one of these trees, apparently reading.

Squinting his eyes, he tried to see the person clearer and suddenly halted in his movements.

His eyes widened and his heart accelerated when he realised who exactly was sitting there.

It was her. Not one day older. Even though he was sure that at least a few years had passed for her.

And as if the dreamwalker had called her name, she turned her head, smiling towards him.

Out of instinct Nichkhun turned to see if the smile was meant for someone behind him, however, when he heard a soft giggle he faced her again.

“There is no one behind you, don’t worry. Do you mind sitting next to me?” She asked and the man couldn’t help but gape at her.

“A-Are you talking to me?” He asked, trying to make sure.

“There is no one else beside you.” She answered with a cheeky smile.

A little hesitantly Khun walked towards her and sat down across from where she was leaning, against a giant tree. He couldn’t help but stare.

“My lord, you don’t have to eye me so suspiciously.” She said, keeping her eyes on the book.

“I…” Nichkhun wanted to tell her that he was not a lord or a man with a specific title. On the other hand, he shouldn’t talk to her in the first place or tell her that he was not from this century. However, she was obviously seeing him so there was no point acting as if he was invisible.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that usually no one is able to see me, Miss.” He explained and she shortly looked up.

“You are not from here. Could it be that you come from the future?” She asked, her eyes finding the book again.

“H-How…” Khun was about to ask why she knew that, but looking down he realised that he was in his pyjamas and the way of talking probably gave him away as well. “It’s because of my clothes and my way of talking, right?”

She only nodded.

“How is it possible that you can see me?” He curiously asked.

She only shrugged. “I’m an immortal, or a vampire like most people call us nowadays. Maybe that’s the reason. I’m sure other supernatural creatures are able to see you as well.” The way she said this was so…uncaring. As if she was talking about the weather.

“V-Vampire, right.” Khun gaped at her.

Her brows knitted as she looked up again. “Could it be no one told you that dreamwalkers aren’t the only creatures with special abilities?”

“I-It’s not like that. It’s just that I’ve never met one of your kind… Actually, I wasn’t sure if your species still existed.” The man stated, waiting for her reaction.

She calmly nodded, closed her book and got up. While she was arranging her dress she asked him if he wanted to accompany her for a while. She then got her umbrella which should probably protect her from the direct sunlight and they started walking.

“So you are able to go out during the day.”

With that statement she looked at him as if he was crazy.

“Of course we can! Are you sure you’ve heard about us immortals? That’s why we tell people not to call us vampires. It’s all because of that stupid Stoker guy who created those misbelieves. He really had a few bottles too much while interviewing one of us…” She sighed, slightly turning away as they passed a few women.

“I’m sorry. It’s just that this is so new for me. I don’t want to offend you.” Khun apologized while mentally noting down that around 10 years had passed since he had met her for the first time. Stokers book had been published in 1897.

“It’s okay. Actually you are the first one I can talk about this beside my family.” She hummed. “It’s really refreshing to talk to someone who is as unique as me.” She smiled up at Khun and he stopped in his tracks.

In that moment he knew that they would become good friends.

“Actually, what’s your name?” He asked, realising he hasn’t even asked.

“Huh?” With that she suddenly started laughing. She only stopped as she realised that an old man who was coming down the path was looking weirdly at her.

“Elise. My name is Elise.”

Nichkhun was just about to introduce himself as he suddenly felt his body falling through time.

.­..­­-…_..­.­-…

“.” He jolted up from his bed and stomped into the kitchen. “That damn alarm clock…” Khun mumbled. After cooling down he told himself that being angry didn’t help. He just hoped that he would get another chance to meet her. Something about her was drawing him in.

It took him three days before he was finally able to stumble upon her once more.

Just like the last time they mostly talked and enjoyed each others company.

.­..­­-…_..­.­-…

He sighed for the umpteenth time while trying to bring his damn tie into shape. After another misshaped knot was produced Khun threw his hands into the air and got rid of the tie completely.

“No tie for me today…” He mumbled, tugging at the neck of his shirt.

For the past eight months Khun and Elise had regularly met. Till now it was a mystery for him how he could always end up where she was, but he wasn’t pushing his luck. He had seen her in various time periods, dresses, hairstyles and moods. He has even met her in a few different countries. But no matter what time it was, what she was wearing or in which mood she was in, he still felt himself drawn to her. They had gotten really close over those past months. They knew all about each other. She had told him various things that had happened to her over the centuries and she even told him about her darkest secrets. It has been the same for him. He trusted her. Never in his life had he met a person like her. Someone he could trust blindly. Khun simply hoped she wouldn’t tell him all of her secrets because she thought there could nothing serious happen between them; knowing that he would disappear at some point.

Nichkhun had decided that, after meeting her in France 1980, he would tell her how he felt when they saw each other the next time. Well, that’s been more than 3 weeks ago. The weird thing was that, ever since that day, he hasn’t been able to travel.

Looking onto his wristwatch Khun realised that he had to hurry. Class was starting in half an hour and traffic was horrible at this time of the year.

His mind was racing, all thoughts circled around her. Khun wasn’t sure how the hell he should hold today’s class, but somehow he would manage. He had to.

Even thought he had never touched her and felt her warmth, he still craved it. He craved to hear her voice and her laugh again. For the past three weeks he had felt so lonely. Nichkhun was pretty sure that he had fallen deeply in love with her, because he has never missed someone as much as her.

Getting out of his car twenty minutes later, he looked up into the bright blue sky and hoped that tonight he would be able to meet her again in his dreams.

He entered the class without looking around. Honestly, he wasn’t interested if someone was missing in today’s class.

Khun just placed his jacket over the chair as a student called out to him. Raising his head, making eye contact with the young student, he simply raised his brows in question.

Even talking seemed like too much of a hassle.

“Sir, the director told me to inform you about our new exchange student.”

Furrowing his brows he nodded and let his gaze wander over the students.

Nichkhun’s eyes widened and he could barely prevent himself from gaping at her.

There she was sitting, smiling at him and looking all happy. She looked so different in modern clothes. Her hair floated over her shoulders and her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Sir, my name is Elise. I just transferred here from Edinburgh. It’s nice to meet you.” She told him while walking towards the podium. Her hips slightly swaying, letting Khun gulp like always when he watched her.

When she reached him he was already grinning like an idiot.

“Welcome to Korea, Elise. I’m always pleased to meet new students, especially when they are so pretty.” He answered in English, winking at her. She sure was a genius, for making it this far and coming for him.

Nichkhun felt his whole body heating up as she extended her hand and he felt her soft and warm skin for the first time.

How much he had craved for this to happen. Now he was sure that she would accept his love.

Khun couldn’t await the adventures they would face in this century. Together.

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