The Timekeeper's Daughter

by C J M Naylor

  "But what about the visions I've had?” I asked. “They can only be from the future."

  "While we cannot travel into the future," Mathias continued, "we can predict. Timekeepers receive what are called premonitions. These visions or voices we hear are a premonition of what could happen. However, whether or not they do happen, is up to the person in the vision. They can always change. These premonitions can be quite annoying, as some are so trivial and minor we wonder why we even bother to get them."

  "But if we need to, we can change them?"

  "No."

  Mathias suddenly became very stern. His whole body tensed up, like it had yesterday, but then, just as fast, he became less tense and settled down.

  "I'm sorry," he told me, "I've forgotten again there are many things you do not know yet. But one of our greatest laws as Timekeepers is that we do not change or interfere with what we see. We are not protectors. We are not God. We simply oversee the course of time, record events, and correct mistakes as they happen. We have to allow people to make their own decisions. If they choose to walk in front of a train we cannot interfere with them just because we saw it in a vision. It can be difficult, but it is naturally right. Free will is an important element of being a human with a soul."

  "But what do you mean about correcting mistakes?"

  Mathias hesitated, but then continued. "You have to understand that there have been Timekeepers that have broken the law and interfered. We correct their mistake in the best way we can. Usually it is stripping them, unfortunately, of their Timekeeping ability. However, these have been small mistakes. If a Timekeeper foresees someone's death, they are not to interfere with the course of death. If they do, death will take them instead.”

  "So, what you are saying is, is if I had told that woman about her dying, I would have died instead.”

  "Yes," Mathias responded.

  I felt relieved that I had not told that woman about her death, but a part of me also felt frightened. What if Ian had never found me? What if I had done something like this in the future? Why would my mother put me in this situation?

  “Why didn’t you tell me this yesterday?” I asked. I felt like it was something I should have been told right away.

  “I apologize. I just didn’t want to overwhelm you. I realize that is something I should have told you now.” I nodded and took a deep breath and decided to continue asking questions.

  "Can we travel to the past and change it?"

  "No. When we time travel, all we can do is observe. No one can see us. There is no way we can interfere. We simply observe, and then when we travel back, it is to the exact spot we left."

  "Can time be reversed?" I could only think of question after question to ask. I was very curious.

  "No."

  "Who enforces the laws of time?"

  "There is a group made up of Timekeepers from different countries," Mathias replied. "They make up a council that makes sure the laws are enforced."

  I was going to ask more, but Mathias held up his hand, signaling me to stop.

  "Abigail. I understand you are curious. But there is a lot that I have to teach you and—forgive my pun—but a lot of time to teach you it. I would like for you to come here each day for lessons. I will allow you to choose whenever you want to come. I will always be here."

  I thought about it for a moment. Was I really going to do this? But I had to. I wanted to learn about my mother and I was interested in it all.

  "Okay," I said.

  Mathias smiled.

  "Will I see you tomorrow then?" he asked.

  I nodded.

  "Ian, will escort you out. You can meet me here at the same time, tomorrow."

  Later that night, after dinner, I helped my mother take my father upstairs. He kissed us both goodnight and I went back down with my mother to help wash dishes.

  "You seem off today," she said while scrubbing a greasy pan.

  "I'm fine." I methodically dried the dishes, not really paying attention to what I was doing.

  "Are you sure?"

  I didn't look at my mother. I kept drying the glass in my hand, but I knew I had to respond.

  "I am." I could tell she didn't buy it.

  "You don't have to tell me anything." I felt my mother's hand on my shoulder. A gesture of comfort that was both simple and powerful. "Just tell me everything will be okay."

  I smiled then. She always understood and that is what I loved about her.

  "Everything will be okay," I responded.

  She leaned in and hugged me. As she did, there was a knock at the front door.

  "I'll get it," I said.

  As I walked to the door I began to hear the wind outside rustling the house. I opened the front door and then Bridget was standing in front of me.

  "Come in," I said.

  "Bridget, hello dear," my mum said, coming into the hallway.

  "Hello, Mrs. Jordan," Bridget said.

  "Why don't you two head upstairs and I'll bring up some tea and cookies," my mum said.

  "That sounds like a plan," Bridget said, a smile appearing on her face, "if Abigail doesn't mind."

  My mother's face shifted into a confused expression and then she smiled.

  "Of course, she doesn't mind," she responded. "My dear Bridget, what a silly thing to say."

  My mum smiled again and then went back to the kitchen. I began to make my way up the stairs and Bridget followed.

  I shut my door as soon as we were safely in my room.

  "Listen Bridget," I said, "there is something I want to tell you."

  "Are you hearing the voices again?" she asked.

  I caught myself before I said anything. What should I say? Honestly, I felt like Bridget wouldn't believe me. She would probably suggest professional help again.

  Bridget and I had been friends since childhood. We had grown up together. Even when her father and stepmother had moved to another neighborhood, my mum made sure we stayed friends. We occasionally hung out in a group with some friends from university, but Bridget was truly my best friend. I could talk to her about anything, but ever since I grew closer to Phillip, it felt like we had grown apart. I decided to tell her a few things.

  "I might have another parent."

  Her eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

  I launched into the story of the past two days, but I left out the Timekeeping. I decided to leave out the premonition at the party as well. I simply told her I had met my father at Big Ben and that we talked briefly, but that he wasn't a very personable type of person.

  "How did you know where to find him?"

  Another lie. "I've been doing some research."

  Bridget was smart, and I could tell she didn't quite buy that response, but she let it slide for the time being.

  "Are you going to go back?"

  "I think I might go tomorrow," I responded. I looked over my shoulder and out the window. The snow had begun to fall. It was beautiful and for a moment I thought, why was I lying to my best friend? I didn't want to, but at the same time I feel like I need to keep this secret. I had told Phillip of course. I was going to marry him after all. But if Bridget and I were growing apart, then I didn't know if I could tell her.

  "I didn't think it was going to snow again," Bridget said. "I'd better get going."

  She said this just as my mother came in.

  "Are you sure?" my mother protested. "You could spend the night here dear."

  "I need to get back Mrs. Jordan," Bridget responded, "thank you though. I've just got a lot of work today and it's all at home."

  My mother saw her to the door. So much for the cookies. I ate one as I continued to look out into the night. The cold snow fell from the sky. Was I a cold person? The thought scared me because I felt like I might be.

  CHAPTER SIX

  I went to Big Ben via a bus, due to the snowy weather. Ian was at the same spot as yesterday.

  "How are you today?"

  "I'm okay."

  "I want to show
you the tower."

  The questions that ran through my head were never ending. Ian led me on a different course today. He led me to a door that simply said, Clock Tower, on it. As he did with the other doors, he pulled out a set of keys and unlocked the door. And then began the long trek of stairs.

  It felt like the stairs were never ending. Every time we turned a corner, I hoped we were there, but there were only more stairs. Further up he led us, until finally we entered a square shape room with the bell, Big Ben, in the middle. He led me over to the round window with the clock hands and I looked out upon the city of London.

  "It's beautiful," I said.

  "It is," Ian responded.

  We stood like that, for a while, admiring the city—tranquility surrounding us.

  Mathias met us just outside the lift.

  "Ian," Mathias said, "would you mind leaving us alone for a while? I would like to spend some time with Abigail, privately."

  Ian nodded, even though I longed for him to stay. I still felt more comfortable around him than Mathias. I once again admired the long corridor leading down to the study. I stopped to look at the pictures on the walls.

  "Am I related to these people?" I asked.

  The pictures were mostly of men, but there was an occasional woman here and there.

  "Yes," Mathias responded, "these are your ancestors. This one here is my father, your biological grandfather."

  I looked at the picture Mathias motioned me to. It was of a man, slightly older than Mathias, but it was clearly Mathias's father. His eyes were the same cerulean blue and he had the same prominent cheekbones Mathias had. He didn't feel like family to me though. None of these people did.

  "But my mother wasn't like the rest of you?" I questioned him.

  "No," he said. He was silent for a moment as he closed his eyes. A smile crept onto his face as he spoke. "She was a simple human being."

  I wanted to question him more and began to speak, but he held up his hand.

  "There will be more time for personal questions later," he insisted, however I had the feeling he didn't have any intention of answering questions about my mother unless he had to. "The first thing that you need to be taught today is the Time Line. The Time Line is the most important part of being a Timekeeper. Come and see for yourself."

  Mathias led me into the circular study, but instead of stopping by his desk we walked further. The fire was not going in the grate today and I was astonished when Mathias walked into the grate. He beckoned for me to follow him and I did, into a small opening in the left side. The room beyond had a faint, blue glow and as soon as we entered it, I realized why.

  In the center of the room, floating above an intricate design of a clock, engraved in the floor, was a horizontal line that stretched from wall to wall. The line appeared as if it was made of some gas or chemical.

  "What is it?"

  "This is the Time Line. The Time Line is made up of a magical energy, from the force of time itself."

  "It's amazing."

  "The Time Line consists of important events in the history of the United Kingdom as well as other countries," Mathias said. "It is our job to ensure that time moves like it should—in this country that is. Every country has its own Timekeeper to ensure the events of that country are properly kept as well as that time continues.

  "The Time Line is almost like a person with a mind of its own. The Time Line we have here is the same all Timekeepers have. They run together and are filled with information of the future together. However, as I have said before, there are events of the past that we do not know; events that were not recorded. That we cannot know. Further, it will only let you view events that are most important, or significant, to the history of the planet. This means that you cannot go back into a single person's past and view their everyday lives. Believe me, I've tried." I assumed he was referring to my mother. I'm sure he tried many ways to try and use the Time Line to figure out what happened to her.

  Mathias continued, "The Time Line automatically updates itself at the midnight hour of every day. The most important events can be viewed. The Time Line will also record all premonitions that a Timekeeper had. The Timekeeper knows that time is in check if the Time Line continues to be a straight, constant line."

  "Is it magic?" I asked.

  Mathias looked at me for a moment, a curious glint in his eyes.

  "You could call it that," he replied, "however it is more commonly thought of as a force with powers."

  "Show me."

  Mathias shook his head.

  "First you must understand the laws of this world. You must know what we do and why we do it, as well as the limitations we have."

  A small table stood next to the Time Line. There were several items on it, such as books and papers. Mathias picked up a very worn piece of parchment. Elegant handwriting was scribbled across it.

  "The laws of the world," Mathias said. "First off, a Timekeeper cannot interfere with the free will of another. Free will is something that every human being has the right to and no force has the right to take that away. As human beings, we are given the right to choose, so why should a force like time give a person the opportunity to take that away? Now, if you choose poorly, what happens after this life in the next is a person's own fault."

  Mathias explained how time would react in the worst ways if someone interfered with the course of another human's free will.

  "I don't understand that part," I broke in. "How come horrific occurrences do not occur in everyday life if a person murders someone? Is that not against another person's will?"

  "That is correct," Mathias answered. "However, you must remember that those people are not Timekeepers. They do not know what may or may not happen, whereas we do. Timekeepers are given these premonitions to prepare us for what might come, therefore it would not be fair or right for us to interfere with a person's course because we know what may or may not happen. Even if that person were to die, it would not be fair to anyone if we were to save them. Time could almost be considered a temptation. It isn't something that is naturally good, but it is something we are plagued with nonetheless."

  He continued to explain how the Timekeepers had the power to observe the past, watch over the present, and see what might happen in the future. He explained how Timekeepers lived outside the Time Line, meaning that no events of a Timekeeper were recorded in the Time Line and also that Timekeepers were able to maintain memory. If for some reason time were changed, Timekeepers would be able to remember. I questioned how time could be changed if we weren't allowed to interfere with it.

  "Supposedly," Mathias answered, "the original Timekeepers had the power to change an event in the Time Line. But once again this is a supposed myth in our world."

  Finally, Mathias beckoned me over to the Time Line. I followed him. The straight, blue line had intricate dates engraved in it. Mathias extended his arm and touched the Time Line with the tip of his finger. He slid his finger across the Time Line and it began to move and I realized it began to show dates from the past. He slid the Time Line century by century. The Time Line stopped however on 1400 A.D.

  "Why did it stop?" I asked.

  "This is when the first Timekeeper took up their place in each country," Mathias answered. "Before then, it is said that the one family was in charge of all Timekeeping duties, however information and facts have been lost throughout the years due to a lack of recording. Some say this Timekeeping family is a myth and that one day a human discovered the Earth's Time Line, a Time Line of all events in history—all events—even events that humans of today have no recollections of in their history books, such as battles and wars that were never recorded. Or events that changed everything. Once again though, this is a myth. No person has ever found this Time Line of Earth; believe me we have tried. And no one has ever discovered this Timekeeping family."

  It amazed me that even this magical world had myths and legends that they considered just that—myths. Mathias reached into his pocket an
d pulled out a pocket watch.

  "You will receive something like this at your ball, which is your initiation into our world," he said. "This pocket watch allows me to access the Time Line and go back in time to review particular events in history. Take my hand—the one with the pocket watch."

  I took hold of his closed hand. As I did, he reached out with his other hand and touched the Time Line.

  The room dissolved.

  Screaming filled my ears. Mathias stood next to me and before us was the worst sight I had ever seen. Fire was everywhere. The city of London was on fire, but it was not the city I was familiar with. I knew immediately where we were. I was literally standing in the middle of the Great Fire of London that occurred in 1666. However, as Mathias had said, I could not interact. Screaming men, women, and children were running about but paid no attention to me. If they happened to run through me, I was like solid matter whereas they faded into particles like the whole thing was a projection. I understood then the power of the Timekeepers. They were powerful. This was magic in some way, shape, or form. I remembered Mathias calling it a force. I literally could not believe my eyes, but then it was gone.

  I was standing back in the study and Mathias was staring at me.

  "That was phenomenal,” I said.

  He smiled at me.

  "The first time," he spoke, "is always something special. Now, all you have to do is hold the pocket watch and touch the Time Line year of your choice. Once you do, you will see several events at once that happened during that year and you will then think of which event you want to see. Since you traveled with me the first time, the event was of my choice. So now it is your choice. Go on."

  He handed me the pocket watch and I took it. I reached out my hand and touched the year 1700. There were a few events to choose from, I chose the first. It was the treaty of 1700 in London. It was a big event in history, but viewing it was nothing special. I was simply watching the treaty being prepared. The room returned to normal and I nodded at Mathias, signaling I had grasped the concept of it. I handed the pocket watch back to him and he tucked it safely inside his jacket pocket.