William

**William** is one of the recurring characters in *Lovecraft Country*. He is portrayed by Jordan Patrick Smith.

He is Christina’s henchman, lover, bodyguard, spy, or whatever else she may need him to be. He is blond-haired and blue-eyed. However, it is revealed that William is dead and that Christina as been using the metamorphosis potion to pose as him in order infiltrate the Order of the Ancient Dawn.

## Throughout the Series

### Season 1

William welcomes Atticus, Leti, and George as they arrive in Ardham. He says that they’ve been expecting Atticus and welcomes him home.

William greets Atticus, Leti, and George and informs them that what they heard was merely the lunch bell before offering to escort them to the veranda. Atticus asks about his father. However, William is unaware of when he’ll return, simply stating that Montrose left to see the lawyer with Miss Braithwhite two nights ago. William goes on to explain that the home doesn’t have telephone lines. Upon inheriting the land, Samuel Braithwhite decided to use it for his summer home, where he didn’t wish to be disturbed. George asks about the large portrait on the wall. William reveals that it’s Ardham’s founder, and the original owner of the lodge, Titus Braithwhite. He built the retreat so that he and his fellow lodge members could dine in private. He came about his fortune through slavery, though he was known to be "notoriously kind" toward those who worked for him. Many were mourned after the great fire during the autumnal equinox of 1833. It was an unfortunate accident that killed Titus and almost everyone inside. William takes them to the veranda to eat. He tells them to ring the bell if in need of assistance and the butler would come as he is simply a close and personal friend of Christina Braithwhite.

Atticus, Leti, and George come upon Woody in the garage. William explains that he found it on the other side of the bridge leading into the village. The back window was smashed out but overall, Woody was in good condition. William assures them that he drove the car up just as he found it. Though, there was quite a bit of blood in the seat that he had the butler wash out.

Later that evening, William escorts Atticus and George into the dinning hall with the other lodge members.

William spots two officers outside of the house. He walks across the street to the two officers staking out the house and attacks them both before warning them to leave. William then goes to Sammy’s bar intent to seduce Ruby. She questions his motives, unsure why a white boy has come over to the “dark side.” He offers to change her life forever and assures her it's a promise he can keep. They head back to Ruby’s place, where they have sex on the steps.

#### Strange Case

William used a metamorphosis potion to turn Ruby into a white woman. She escaped his house while he was gone, but with help from the local police, she is brought back to him. William takes her inside and places her on to a plastic tarp. Ruby is undergoing a bone cracking and unbearably painful transformation. She says that she doesn't want to die. William replies: “He would say the metamorphosis isn’t death.” He then cuts Ruby open with a kitchen knife and frees her of the shedded skin.

William informs Ruby that a butterfly lives a full life before it dies. And a caterpillar emerges from the same cells, yet different. William wanted to apply this process of metamorphosis to humans. But his research was theoretical until he met Hiram Epstein, who merely wanted to understand the universe. So he created magical doorways. He goes on to explain that the potion he gave her simply mimics metamorphosis and it wears off eventually. Ruby is shocked to learn that magic exists. She recalls how when she was walking down the street, the people were scared for her. They treated her like an actual human, though the pain was unspeakable. She describes it as feeling as if she was being unmade. William assures her it gets easier after the first time and leaves a vial of metamorphosis potion and a clip of money on the nightstand for her.

William returns home and finds Ruby singing in the bathtub. He does admit that he will need a favor from her when the time comes, but he assures her that it’s a small favor. Until then, she’s free to come and go as she pleases. He questions why she didn’t use any of the money he left. She explains that she enjoyed her entire day using the only currency she needed: whiteness. She doesn’t know what’s more difficult: being colored or being a woman. Most days, she’s happy to be both, but the world keeps interrupting, and she’s tired of being interrupted.

William waits outside out Mayfield for Ruby. He asks how was her first day at her dream job. He then reveals that he’s come to call on her for that favor he mentioned. He needs her to attend Christina’s party, but as herself.

William comes home, and Ruby questions what’s in the basement as he and Christina constantly go in and out. William falls to the ground in pain and goes through a metamorphosis of his own. He sheds his skin, revealing his true form — William is actually Christina.

#### I Am.

William's body lays in Christina's basement and his blood is being used by her to create the metamorphosis potion. Christina has been posing as him in order to gain Ruby's trust. The real William was in fact killed by Captain Lancaster.

#### Jig-A-Bobo

Christina (as William) finds Ruby being harassed at the front gate of Christina’s home. Ruby once more drinks the metamorphosis potion to become white. The two have sex, and Ruby sheds her skin to reveal her true self as she reaches climax.

## Personality

William is charming, subtle, and calm. Even when faced with confrontation, he handles it calmly.

## Physical Appearance

William is a young white man with blond hair and blue eyes. He comes from wealth and dresses as such.

## Appearances

Season One
* *Sundown*
* *Whitey's on the Moon*
* *A History of Violence*
* *Strange Case*
* *I Am.*
* *Jig-A-Bobo*

## Quotes

> A butterfly lives a full life before it dies. And a caterpillar emerges from the same cells, the essence of the butterfly, yet different. It's more. I wanted to apply this process of metamorphosis to humans. But my research was all theoretical. It was laughed at by the academic community. Until, by chance, I met a disgraced professor named Hiram Epstein. He wanted nothing more than to understand the universe, but it was beyond his reach. So he created doorways. Not scientific, mind you, but magical. Though one could argue they're one and the same.
>
> William to Ruby, Strange Case

> The first time I laid eyes on you was the first time in a while that I had felt magic where there was none.
>
> William to Ruby, Strange Case

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 *Strange Case*
2. ↑ *Sundown*
3. ↑ *Whitey's on the Moon*
4. ↑ *A History of Violence*
5. ↑ *I Am.*
6. ↑ Jig-A-Bobo