Anthology: A Collection of Short Stories

Running Out of Time

1/27/21

In the Haitian Land of the Gods, a Spirit amongst them did not like when others used their "More Godly" name. It was the name that Baron Samedi had given them, and he knew they did not like it.

However, the Goddes of Love- Erzulie- gladly gifted them with a new one: Time.

In the Haitian Land of the Gods, each God and Spirit had a pair of wings as a source of their power. Each pair of wings reflected the God, Goddess, or Spirit they were attached to.

La Sirene- the Queen of the sea- gained her power from large, royal blue wings. Agwé- God of Protection and Guidance- has streamlined wings, sailor blue in color.

Baron Samedi- the Spirit of Death- has wings that were as black as the night; they were wings that rested over him like a cloak. Asaka Mede- the God of Agriculture and Farming- has wings as deep and lush as a forest.

Bondye- God of All- has wings like an eagle: strong, elegant, and pure white. They went perfectly with the shimmering cloak he wore- since he was the proclaimed leader of the Land of the Gods.

Erzulie- the Goddess of Love- had wings that were soft pink and heart-shaped. Time favored her wings more than any other god and spirit.

Time once had their own wings. Their wings were nearly translucent, and they were small yet powerful- much like those of a hummingbird.

But now they are destroyed, torn, and hanging onto Time's shoulders like a weak thread. Before being cast away, Time had been one of many sprites. They were actually the second-in-command to Bondye.

Now, things have changed. Baron Samedi has taken Time's place as second-in-command, and Time had their powers stripped away to be forced into becoming a mere mortal.

Erzulie is the only power- God or Spirit- who has cared about Time. It is her specialty, after all.

Erzulie had never wanted Time to be kicked out of the Land of the Gods. Bondye, however, thought differently. He said the Gods were not dumb and they did not need to be reminded of when to use their powers.

You ask why? Well, Time had once noticed Baron Samedi arguing with Asaka Mede. Bondye, God of all, tried to intervene, but could not.

Time- being the closest thing to a peacekeeper- knew that they were the only power that could intervene. But Bondye did not listen, not at all.

He had said he knew better than some ratchet spirit that no one cared to remember.

"But Bondye, listen. You cannot forget me," Time told him. "I can start by halting the human world until Asaka Mede and the Baron figure themselves out..."

But Bondye cut off Time mid-sentence. He didn't want to listen.

"No, [XXX]. Just because you can, does not mean that you are allowed," Bondye said to Time, a bit too harshly. "Go watch Erzulie help the heartless, or watch La Sirene move the ocean waves, or watch Agwé protect the sailors."