Deep inside a room in a velvet castle, the last few grains of sand floated toward the bottom of a gilded hourglass. They fell slowly, like fat snowflakes wafting from heavy clouds.
One grain touched the bottom. A tremor swept through the dark room, shaking the rows upon rows of hourglasses.
A second grain of sand came to rest on the growing pile. At its contact, the whole room shook, and a sound like wind chimes filled the air as glass clinked against glass.
As the last grain of sand neared the bottom, the single door at the front of the room flew open, shedding light upon the never-ending sea of timekeepers. A well-dressed man ran toward the gilded hourglass, a black cloak billowing behind him. He called himself Eli.
And before the last grain of sand could touch the bottom, before time ran out for the poor soul, he grabbed the hourglass from its lonely perch.
Time itself trickled to a halt. The sand stopped falling, and in the human world, everything would be still.
Eli let out a relieved sigh. He breathed again and gripped the golden item gingerly in both hands, examining the last grain of sand that was millimeters away from joining the others. He closed his eyes and thanked the higher powers that he had made it soon enough.
He read the engraved plaque on the hourglass. Noor Kumar. Yes. It was time for her to fulfill her destiny. He remembered the day the Fates had told him about her.
He tucked the fragile piece into his cloak before sweeping out of the room. He had to go find the girl. Then, the door closed, casting the room into darkness once more.
And against all odds, Noor Kumar would live to see another day.
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A shortie for today, but the rest of my chapters are closer to 2,000 words. Take care, friends.
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Counting Crows
FantasyNoor was horribly ordinary, until today, when someone tried to freeze her to death. She is your average college student, home for winter-break, when she realizes that mythical powers beyond belief are out to end her life, and plan to take the world...
