The Dark Lord's Wife

KGX

Remind me ...

Remind me to lecture her rather sternly on the need to install better locks for her door.

Otherwise, someone dangerous might be able to just walk right in.

Such are my thoughts as my wand slices through the air and her front door clicks open to me. Sighing softly to myself now, I shake my head at how annoying this all is.

... As if I have the time for this nonsense.

I should be focused on far grander pursuits.

The Sword, for example.

The Diadem.

I need to think about my endgame.

Of course, the way I justify all this is the secret knowledge that she's the endgame. And as I stalk through her entryway, not bothering to shut the door behind me, I can't help but to ruminate further on this whole mess.

Like I just said ...

She's endgame.

I mean, not her specifically -

Not her as a person -

I could care less about all that.

So don't think I've gone sentimental

Because I never have, and I never will.

This is about winning.

Nothing more.

Well ... winning and gaining unlimited access to the most gifted seer in all the known universe.

So, at its heart this is purely about power and control.

As I pass her bedroom, I think back to the last time I was here. In one sense, I was just here but an instant ago. In another, I've never been here. It all depends on which version of reality you pick.

Time ... so very, very messy.

And speaking of messy ...

I find myself pausing at the threshold of her bedroom now, frowning at the state of it.

Exactly as I remember.

You're such a slob, you know that?

Couldn't even bother to make your bed?

Turning and continuing along, I breeze through her kitchen. And, having already done this multiple times prior, I know exactly where to go. I know exactly where the watch is.

She's left it right ...

Here!

Sure enough, upon tugging open one of her kitchen drawers I find her pocket watch, the one she thinks her mother gifted her that one year for her birthday.

That was an extremely clever ruse on my part -

Absolutely foremost among all the brilliant things I've done.

Planting the pocket watch on her, along with an extremely clever spell designed to trick her, to confuse her memory into thinking it was a well-intentioned gift from her mother.

The reality of the matter is that the pocket watch serves as a reliable reset point, a fixed place in space and time that I can use to track her motions at the beginning of each temporal cycle. And so, as I hold her watch in one hand I dig with my other into my pocket and pull my own copy. They're perfect matches, complimenting each other in every way. And with that, I set them both down side by side on her kitchen table as I slip into the rickety chair.

Pulling out my wand, I watch now as the two watches slowly rise up and begin to levitate in the air.

Alright.

Go on, already!

I haven't got all day.

So tell me what I need to know:

Where is she?

Where's she gone off to?

As if reading my thoughts perfectly, her pocket watch begins to shake violently before flipping open to reveal a hidden face.

"Come on, out with it. Where?"

There's a simple read out. Green means she's in the present time; blue means time travel; red means dead. And gold ...

Well ...

It's never been gold.

Never, ever.

So don't you worry about gold, because I'm not.

After a few seconds of swirling and twirling, the watch face turns bright green.

Well, that's a nice start.

That makes things the slightest bit easier.

Leaning forward, I whisper again to the watch, "Where?"

I watch as the elegant white script flashes across the watch face, "... Price."

That earns an irritated huff.

I forgot about this;

Forgot because it's my least favourite part, and because I'm rushing.

Well ... that's just the way of things, is it not?

There needs to be an exchange;

Something given for something gained.

Leaning over, I tug open her cutlery drawer and take out a steak knife. Then, leaning over her watch, I carefully prick my finger and watch as a single drop of my blood falls onto it.

"WHERE? Out with it, already!"

And just like that, the letters disappear and swirl, and I watch as new ones form: "KGX."

At this, I practically shoot up out of my seat, grabbing at both watches and shoving them into my jacket pocket.

NO!

Crazy bitch!

Stupid, stupid -

I've got to hurry;

Absolutely no time to waste.

Another quick flick of my wand, a pop, and I'm gone.