The Time Capsule

Chapter Eight.

        Nadia had begun to write a note. She had already tried shouting for the Keeper of Time, but she had gotten no response. So she decided to do the same thing that Roman Adair had done: Write her notes, somehow sending them to her in a time loop.
The note read, ‘I NEED TO GO BACK TO THE REALM OF TIME. SEND ME THERE WHEN YOU CAN.’
        She harbored fear that Fate might notice this, but she shook it aside. Right as she set the note down, it disappeared into thin air. Immediately, a slightly singed piece of parchment floated gently down onto the nightstand. ‘DRINK.’ The chalice that had once sat there on her bedside table, only a few days ago, had reappeared. She winced, remembering the horrible disgusting flavor and the Night Wraiths threatening to consume her soul.
         Instead of trying a sip the first time, she gulped it down without a second thought, gagging at the taste. It was horrible. It was just as terrible as she remembered.
Nadia found herself transported into the bright realm again, no Night Wraiths to be seen. “Roman Adair? Are you there?” No reply. “The Keeper of Time?”
          “I’d appreciate it if you called me by my official title: “The Keeper of Time and Everything in Between, Including the Past, Present, and Future.” The Time Keeper strode over to her, grinning. “Welcome back. What brings you to my domain, mortal?”
        “I had an idea… Actually, my friends thought of it. Anyway, I need to find someone else who is stuck in the loop. That way, they can’t get permanently hurt, and they might know more of how to escape than I do. What do you think?” She spoke quickly, excitement filling her lungs.
         The Keeper of Times' eyes stopped glowing, blackness radiating from him. The air turned crisp, a cool breeze chilling her to the bone. “You will not go hunting for someone else in the loop. That is against the law. Against the rules of the game. Promise me you will not go searching for them.” He glared at her, and her breaths felt shallower than normal. He was absolutely terrifying when angry.
          “So there is another person stuck in a loop?” Nadia inquired, standing strong. She would not let someone tell her not to do something. Especially when it could grant her freedom. And maybe theirs.
         “Nadia Wolfe. The last person who went hunting for another person in the loop was killed. I do not want to see you suffer the same fate.”
         “Was that last person the same one who was given the hourglass?” ‘Maybe I can succeed in what the other person didn’t…’ She thought, focused solely on planning.
         “NADIA WOLFE. By the order of both Fate and the Keeper of Time, the law binds me. You shall not seek out another Looper. On penalty of death, or something much, much, worse. I do not give the orders concerning this. The Higher Council does. And they have made me take a blood oath for this. Because Loopers do not live long enough to break out of the loop if they start searching for others.” He spoke with clear precision, obviously trying not to yell. He remembered the death of the last Looper who touched the hourglass, and it tore at his soul, causing him agony every day since.
           Nadia startled, walking back a step. “So… it goes: You, Roman Adair, the Keeper of Time… then Fate, the controller of Destiny… and then the High Council? What do they do?”
          “I am not permitted to discuss them in detail. Just know… if you chase this other Looper, your death will be a long and painful one. I will not be able to get you out of that situation. The High Council controls Fate and me. No arguments.”
          “Okay… then how do I get out if I can’t ask another… so-called “Looper” for help? I get that you’re trying to help me escape, but it seems to be taking too long, and I’m not entirely sure what you’re doing. And also… Fate is basically watching my every move! I need to act. And soon. Fate has been sending me messages, saying, “Time is running out”. And stuff like that.”
        “I thought that the main message that Fate sent you was the one in the sky. How many others have there been?”
        “Hmm… Three? Or so?” Nadia shrugged. “Anyway, we’re getting off topic. I need help. And if you’re not going to honor your promise and get me out of here, I’m not going to honor mine. Have fun finding your own successor.”
        Roman Adair crossed his arms, his eyes glowing even more with anger. “You mortals think that the world revolves around you. I told you. I am helping you. Just not as quickly as you might think. And I dislike people who honor their agreements. I hope we can come to an…” The air’s temperature dropped again. “Understanding. We agreed. There’s no turning back.”
         Nadia’s eyes widened, her heart racing. “I’ll help you find your apprentice. But hurry up the escape route. Now send me back. Unless you want to argue some more?” As she said this, he snapped, and she woke up to yet another day. She still remembered those alarming eyes. They would haunt her every day that she was stuck in here.
       ‘The Keeper of Time seems to be nice sometimes, all carefree and whatnot, and other times… really threatening. Maybe my enemy isn’t just Fate. Wait… we agreed that he had no ill will towards me. But if I break my side of the agreement, he might change his tune. Oh no. I don’t want him coming after me as well as Fate. AND the High Council! I need to have one person on my side, even if it’s a slightly threatening Time Keeper. I need to keep on searching for an apprentice for Roman Adair. And I need to find a Looper. But he said it meant death!’ Nadia groaned, an internal battle warring in her head, never relenting.
         ‘My first task: Find the Keeper of Time’s successor. My second task: Find a Looper and go behind the back of the three most powerful beings in the universe. Easy peasy.’