The Calling of Time

A Time to Weep

The sands of the hourglass ran smoothly through the center. The silence was unbroken for a second, and I could swear I could hear it hitting the bottom of the glass. It was just the sand, and the sound of my beating heart.

Jai was in the doorway. Jai.

Even thought I knew it wasn’t him dead on the floor, I still felt my heart lift. But the silence was broken by another soft chuckle from Thanatos.

“Oh no,” he said, and his voice was mocking. “It’s the guardians, whatever shall I do?” He took a step towards Jai, who stiffened. “You idiot boy, your power is weak here on earth. You know that as well as I do.” His voice took on a sing song quality. “You’ve grown weak and I’ve grown strong. Tables are turned, boy.”

Thanatos swept past me without a second glance. Before Jai could move, the man’s arm shot out and one pale, spidery hand covered Jai’s throat, slamming him back into the doorframe. “See how strong?”

I expected Jai to fight him, to reach up and swat him away. Instead, Jai’s body seemed to lock up. He shook, and his eyes rolled backwards, mouth dropping open as he gasped for air. A trickle of darkness began to bleed from Thantos’ pale fingers, snaking upwards over the surface of Jai’s throat. “Rot and ruin,” Thanatos said softly. “Ruin and rot. Oh dear, you’re not looking so good…”

“Stop!” I dragged myself forward, ignoring the pain sawing at my leg.  Propelling myself upwards with my hands and one good leg, I launched myself directly at Thanatos. I must have caught him by surprise, because he let go of Jai and whirled on me, shoving me backwards.

The floor came up in a rush, smacking me in the side of the face, cracking my temple. Bright stars danced in front of my eyes, and a blurry outline of Thanatos leaned over me. In spite of my daze I saw something drop out of his shirt. A red, multifaceted stone on a fine silver chain.

The necklace.

“Oh darling.” Thanatos sneered down at me.  “That looked like a rough tumble. Did it hurt?” When he reached out the chain around his neck swung, making the diamond move back and forth. I was about to reach up and grab it when a wave of sickening pain rocked me, and the room spun again. My stomach lurched, and I fought the gorge rising in my throat. Thanatos was pressing one pale hand against my broken leg.

“Oh, does that hurt?” He laughed. “Do you think I can’t see you eyeing the necklace? You really think I’m going to let you surprise me? I’ve been a step ahead of you and your buffoons the entire way, Lady Time.” He spat the last two words out like they were poison.

“Hey!” A voice from the doorway made us both jerk in surprise. “Get away from her, you slimy bastard.”

My heart leapt when I saw Manda. She was standing just inside the doorway, beside Jai, who was slumped on the floor panting. In her right hand she was carrying a long, curved blade.

The instruments were back.

Thanatos narrowed his eyes at her, and I took the opportunity, lunging forward in spite of his hand, still on my broken leg, gritting my teeth through the pain. My hand closed around the cool surface of the diamond just as Thanatos jerked back in surprise, and the chain tore away.

He reached out for me, and I rolled sideways just as Manda came charging for him, swinging the scythe wildly. He jumped back, laughing and that’s when Manda saw Horace.

She faltered, and her eyes went wide. For a split second the scythe wavered in her hands and her mouth formed a round “Oh” expression. Thanatos struck.