Gwen laughed. “I’m beginning to accept that nothing around here is ever simple.”
Max grinned. “The silver watch face is, for all intents and purposes, normal. The idea is to set it to the time and date of your home time.” He nodded for Gwen to proceed, so she spun the dial on the watch to set the date and time. “The bronze watch, on the other hand, will always change to reflect the time and date of the location you have traveled to. It also keeps track of the time spent in the visited stream. As a whole, the watch is a way to keep track of where you belong and what time you are in.”
Gwen touched the watch, half-afraid it would suck her into some unknown time. “My smartphone has nothing on this.”
Max laughed. “Technology does have its uses, although there are things that are more helpful to a traveler. Oh, and a last note …”
Gwen’s eyebrows raised. “It does more?”
He laughed again. “Instead of requiring you to spend the next decade or more learning every language you can think of, the watch lets you understand any language spoken around you. There are those of the old guard who may call this laziness. Still, most Guardians will admit expecting new travelers to learn Akkadian or another dead language is outdated.”
“How does it all work?”
“Magic,” Rafe stage whispered in her ear.
Alistair spoke up. “Most of the knowledge that goes into the creation of the watches, as well as the Archives themselves, has been lost. What Rafe says in jest, however, is not inaccurate. In the same way our gifts are said to descend from the gods, these devices are also believed to have divine origin.”
“A helping hand.” Max said.
Alistair nodded. “Traditionally, it is worn as a watch, although the length of the leather band is intended to allow you to wear it in other ways. A watch would not go unnoticed in every time throughout history. A necklace, around an ankle, it only needs to be worn next to the skin.”
Rafe pulled up the sleeve of his shirt and showed Gwen the band looped several times around his wrist. The band was wider and more aged than hers, the watch faces more masculine.
She tried not to stare at the silver watch face. It was cracked and unmoving.
With a little help from Rafe, the watch was wrapped around her wrist. An air of expectation filled the room.
Alistair broke the silence. “I think now is the time for us to speak of what happened in the mirror.”
Gwen felt more than saw Rafe stiffen beside her. She spoke up so Rafe didn’t have to. “What do you need to know?
“From what Alistair has already told me, the events in the mirror played out like a memory.” Max said.
Rafe struggled for words. “I was aware of what was going on; I just had no ability to deviate from what I remember happening.”
The pain was still present in his voice, and Gwen’s heart ached. “I don’t understand. What does that mean?”
Max was no longer smiling. “What happened in the mirror, Gwen?”
Alistair spoke up before she could answer. “And how did you go through the mirror? I was unable to activate the gateway. It was closed to me.”
“My compass didn’t work alone either,” Gwen said. “So I thought maybe together they would be strong enough.”
Max made a thoughtful noise. “An interesting thought, and one that worked well for you. What happened inside the mirror?”
“I could see and hear everything. It was like a projection. I couldn’t interact with anyone or stop anything from happening.” She kept her gaze glued to the floor. “I tried hitting one of the men holding Rafe, and I went right through him, like he was made of smoke.”
Max leaned forward in his chair once again. “And Rafe?”
“Rafe was different. But he didn’t seem to know I was there either. I tried to wake him up.” She could feel her cheeks coloring. And they act like having fair skin is such a good thing. “It was like he couldn’t hear me. I jumped on his back when he was walking towards the destruction, and he still wouldn’t stop.”
Max looked intrigued. “Destruction?”
“Oh.” Gwen shook her head, wondering how she could skip the most vital part. “When you showed me the memory of your Athens, it was like that. First, it started in the distance; the buildings were crashing and falling. Like a wave, it grew bigger and faster. Then it was in front of us, swirling and crashing in some kind of whirlpool. Rafe was walking right to it.”
Alistair’s voice was grim. “Rafe, do you remember any of this?”
“Like I told you before, I was stuck in the memory, and I never saw Gwen. I also never saw any of the destruction. The way the real memory played out, I was walking towards a certain destination. So in the fake memory, I did the same.”
“Interesting.” Max sat back. “So had Gwen not rescued you, you would have walked straight into the whirlpool. Very interesting.”
Gwen chanced a look at Rafe. “What would have happened if Rafe had kept walking?”
Max sighed, lowering his hands so he gripped the arms of his chair. He looked like a pagan god deigning to speak to his subjects. “It’s only conjecture. If the destruction you saw in the mirror is the same that destroyed Athens, well, it would be safe to assume Rafe would have met the same fate as my home.”
“Which is?” Rafe’s voice sounded rough.
“While the place still exists in many forms and throughout many ages, my homeland is lost forever. In the time streams, in essence, it has never existed.”
“So that would have happened to Rafe?” Her voice sounded strained to her own ears. “It would have been like he never existed?”
“I could think of a few people who would have been pleased.” Rafe’s voice was dry with sarcasm. Gwen wondered how much that joking statement had hurt him.
Alistair gave Rafe a look. “Perhaps we can deal with the situation as mature adults instead of resorting to jokes.”
Rafe shrugged. “Wasn’t a joke.” He waved off Alistair’s retort. “So was the mirror a trap?”
“Exactly. As a formal representative of the Guardians, we are sorry such a thing has occurred. We will, of course, investigate the matter.” Max smiled grimly. “Since we know Seymour’s involved, I’ll say this for myself. We’ll get the bastard. No worries there.”
His profanity provoked a startled laugh from her. “Thanks, Max. It helps to know you’re on our side.”
Rafe nodded.
“I second Gwen’s statement.” Alistair said. “Seymour and the trap in the mirror are connected. We will need whatever help we can get in stopping him. If Gwen hadn’t shaken off Seymour’s spell, Rafe would have been stuck in the mirror. Thankfully, our enemies miscalculated Gwen’s strength.”
Gwen’s smile was shy. “Why do you say that?”
This time it was Max who spoke. “It takes no mean strength to be able to reverse a memory trap once it has been created. Not only were you able to shake off the trap but you were also able to enter a mirror that’s purpose had been twisted and rescue the person who had been trapped inside.”
“What makes you think it was my strength?”
Alistair raised an eyebrow. “It wasn’t luck.”
Max interrupted her before she could argue with him. “I recognize this is all new to you, Gwen. Still, believe us when we say, you are powerful. Rafe and Alistair themselves do not lack for power. There is a reason they were given access to the Archives. So perhaps you think that everyone can do the things that you are learning about. The reverse is true. There are many travelers stretched out across the universes, and few possess real power. Most have only minor gifts. Your ability to focus on a place or time and reach a destination is a very unusual gift.”
Gwen wasn’t certain what to say. “Why me?”
“Why not?” Rafe said, no hint of laughter in his voice.
“There is no doubt these events speak to a larger problem. The force behind the black mirror is stirring. We will need those with great power to help us combat this evil.
Why not you, Gwen?” Alistair said.
She looked around the room at the three men’s faces, and her heart raced. Although there was something life affirming being told she had the power to help defeat a nameless evil, it was also downright terrifying. “Well, if I’m going to help defeat a crazy half-god, can I at least have lunch first?”
Max laughed and Rafe smirked. Even Alistair looked amused. “Perhaps if you and Rafe would be so kind, you could go to the diner around the corner and pick up lunch for us all. There is Archive business I need to discuss with Max.”
Gwen shared a look with Rafe, suspicious about the so-called reason to have them leave the building. When Max didn’t say anything to contradict Alistair, Gwen rose to her feet, and Rafe followed her lead.
“Oh, and Rafe?” Alistair spoke again before they left the room. “Please keep an eye on Gwen and look out for Seymour. If you see him, come back here immediately, and we will determine a plan of attack. Understood?”
“Yes, sir!” Rafe’s face was a study in mock solemnity as he gave a fake salute. Gwen doubted he would choose retreat and regroup if given the chance. “Come on, Gwendolyn, let’s give the general his space to discuss Archives business.” His emphasis on the last two words made it clear he believed Alistair’s excuse as little as she did.
She waved goodbye to the two older men. It occurred to her she had failed to berate Rafe for calling her Gwendolyn. She was too pleased with the return to normalcy to be bothered.
Alistair watched the younger pair as they left. A heavy sigh left him, the muscles in his neck finally loosening. As long as I can save them.
“Now we are alone.” He turned to Max, his eyebrow raised. “Would you like to explain why you were so insistent I send them away?”
“Sending them away gives them time to repair their relationship.” Max’s eyes gleamed.
He always did love playing the matchmaker. Alistair thought of the early days with his wife. He rubbed the space over his heart. “And the real reason?”
“I made you a promise.”
“To play matchmaker?” The smirk on his face died when he saw Max’s expression.
“I took something from you a long time ago. It wasn’t safe for you to keep. You made me promise to return it if it was necessary.” Max frowned. “And with the protections of the mirror weakening, I should think it’s necessary.”
Alistair’s hand clenched into fists. “And what is it that needs to be returned?”
“Your memories, old friend.”
Alistair opened his mouth. Before he could speak, Max’s eyes turned gold. His gaze slammed into him and everything blacked out of existence.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
SEYMOUR WATCHED the couple walk through the hallway, his stomach roiling with fear. Their muted voices stabbed at his brain, and he pulled at his hair in worry. When they disappeared from sight, he slunk back into his little closet. He wasn’t sure what had happened. He only knew his master was going to be angry. Very, very angry.
Like so many times in his life, he had failed. He winced against imagined rebukes. What if his weakness made him below notice? Maybe Aeon would forget him. Too weak to be useful, so thrown away. He rubbed his forehead with a groan. I should have tried harder. It wasn’t fair that a slip of a girl was chosen by the gods to have such power. He wanted to be the important one. Gwen needed to be driven to isolation so that she trusted no one.
A dark hatred curled in his stomach. The girl was weak. In his madness, he was able to forget she had fought against the mental trap. And the man? He represented everything Seymour loathed. Power, beauty, importance. The hatred boiled hotter. If he had only been stronger, Rafe would be lost forever.
Rocking back and forth, he began to cry, pleading with the empty air around him. “Please, I’m sorry. I tried. And now she’s with that stupid boy. But I can still help.”
The words grew more frantic as he continued to rock. Then, he stilled. A thick dark cloud of smoke oozed underneath the door and swirled around the room caressing the objects Seymour had lovingly arranged.
His master hadn’t abandoned him after all. As a silent voice whispered plans and dark promises in his ear, Seymour began to smile. First, it was a small weak thing. Soon, it spread across his face, wide and twisted.
Aeon was giving him another chance. His new mission required more stealth and less power. Spending his life creeping through shadows, he excelled at stealth. The plan was even more promising than the first. An idea exploded in his mind with such sharpness he hissed out a breath. It wasn’t his master’s direct order. Surely, Seymour would be forgiven if his improvisation helped further the plan. Plus, it’s such a delightful idea. He shivered in pleasure.
He struggled to his feet and began to walk around the room while he planned. The small space was no longer filled with the presence of an invisible power, although the manic gleam in Seymour’s eyes was just as frightening.
Gwen sat at the table in the diner fidgeting with her necklace, watching Rafe. He leaned against the front counter, ordering from a waitress who was staring up at him in awe. She felt a vague annoyance over the girl’s obvious fawning attitude, but she supposed she didn’t have any right to be upset. God forbid, to be jealous.
She frowned and stared at the gleaming tabletop, hoping it held the answer to fixing her relationship with Rafe. Her lip was tender from where she chewed on it, mulling over the right words to say. Although she had already apologized to him, he deserved more than the blurted out words after their escape from the mirror.
“Taken up divination since we last spoke?” Rafe’s voice was amused. “You know it’s supposed to be a crystal ball that you read, right, not shining tables?”
Gwen looked up at him, her face solemn. “Rafe.”
“Uh-oh.” He gave a mock frown. “That sounds serious.”
“It is serious. I need to apologize.”
“Gwen, you don’t need to—”
Shaking her head, she interrupted him. “I do need to apologize. The things I said to you were unforgivably horrible, and you didn’t deserve to hear them. I don’t care if I have an excuse for saying them.” Losing her nerve, she dropped her gaze. “Sometimes I feel like it all can’t be real—part a wonderful dream, part a horrible nightmare. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t give up what I’ve learned from all of this. Still, it’s a lot to handle.”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
She snuck a quick glance at him. “And I have a hard time trusting people sometimes—all the time. My parents were distant at best, and it was hard growing up in a household where I knew I wasn’t wanted. When they divorced, they shuffled me back and forth like an unasked for relic of a marriage they wanted to forget. I eventually got shipped off to live with my aunt. It was the final huge betrayal in a long bloody history. Maggie put up with a lot before she convinced me she wasn’t going to leave me, too.”
“You don’t have to tell me this.”
Her fingers gripped the edge of the table. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that, even before what happened with Seymour, I didn’t find trusting people easy. And by habit, I treated you like you were untrustworthy when it was a problem I had and nothing you did to deserve it. You’ve always been a friend to me, and I ruined it. First with—”
When he took her hand, her words stuttered to a stop. Her gaze met his without conscious thought.
“Stop it. Now. You risked your life to save me from Aeon’s trap.” He swallowed. “You shouldn’t be apologizing. I should be thanking you. It may not be a life that’s the most worthy to be saved. Still, I’m fond of it. I may have seen a lot of things, but I don’t think I’m done yet.” His thumb brushed over the top of her hand.
Gwen moistened her lips with her tongue. “I—”
She was interrupted by a loud thump. Gwen turned to glare at the waitress who had dropped their lunch order down at the table.
“What is it with the waitresses at this place?” Her voice was heavy with s
arcasm. The waitress flashed her a saccharine smile before turning to bat her eyelashes at Rafe.
“Is there anything else I can get you, doll?”
Gwen scowled. “Doll? Seriously?”
Rafe looked at her, his smile wide on his face. A gentle pressure had her realizing that he still hadn’t released her hand. Her annoyance with the waitress was forgotten.
Rafe looked at the waitress, whose flirting attitude had turned sullen. “We’re fine, thank you.”
“Suit yourself.” With a toss of her hair, she flounced away.
Rafe shook his head. “We need to find another place to eat.”
“I guess we better go.” She snatched her hand away and tried to jump out of the booth. In her hurry to leave, she banged her leg into the table. She winced, rubbing what she was sure would be a colorful bruise.
Rafe stayed seated, his eyebrow raised. “All right there?”
Busying herself with grabbing the food, Gwen nodded. Under her irritation at the waitress, her pulse raced. If not for the waitress’ interruption, she wasn’t sure what she had planned on saying.
He laughed and stood, taking the food from her hands. “Saved by the bell? We’ll see if you’re so lucky next time.” He winked at her and walked out of the diner.
Alistair opened his eyes. His head ached, but the cool air soothed the pain. A crack of thunder startled him into a sitting position, but a wave of dizziness had him wishing he hadn’t moved so quickly.
A voice to his left murmured. “Best take it easy for a while.”
Squinting in the dark, Alistair could just see Max. “Hell, I don’t remember it hurting that much last time.”
“Taking something away is easier than giving it back.”
Alistair stood, pleased when his body didn’t strain too much at his full weight. Moving over to Max, he stared out into the dark, enjoying the view. The fierce storm pierced the sky with jagged bolts of lightning while the howling wind tore at the long grass. When another jagged slash of light illuminated their surroundings, he recognized the abandoned temple. “I know this place.”
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