I pulled off my pants and shirt before sliding under the layers of blankets. I managed to do so when Shep's back was turned and was pleased with his small gasp when he crawled under the covers and found my naked body.
“And to think, I thought you were tired,” he said, feigning shock.
“I am tired, just wanted to be comfortable is all,” I replied coyly before turning over, but snuggling my bare back close to him. Instinctively, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me close to him.
“Are you playing hard to get, Lill?” He asked through a giggle.
“Maybe,” I replied, laughing.
“I love you, Lill,” he whispered in my ear before kissing my neck. I moaned quietly and stayed still while he kissed my neck and allowed his hands to explore my body. He took his time touching, kissing, loving, before I turned to face him, unable to resist him any longer. His mouth met mine. He wrapped his arms around me, and our legs were entangled while we lay there, kissing, gently, lovingly. I could have stayed there forever, in his arms, with his mouth on mine, loving each other, feeling each other's hearts beat. We made love slowly, deliberately. When I reached my peak, I held him tight to me, unwilling to let him go. “I love you, Shep,” I whispered before releasing my hold on him. We snuggled in and drifted off to sleep.
I slept dreamless but deep until Shep woke me. “Come on, baby, wake up. We have to go.” He kissed my cheek before getting out of bed. He filled the tub with water and looked over at me. “We have just enough time for a bath if you wake up now,” he teased before he stepped into the tub himself. It didn't take long, or much coaxing for me to join him. I slid into the small tub in front of him. I sat facing him, my legs wrapped around his body. He was ready with a chunk of soap that smelled like a sweet bouquet. It was slightly rough and felt amazing. He washed my entire body before handing me the chunk of soap. I washed him in return before kissing him softly. There, in the warmth of the tub, we made love again as though it was our last chance to hold each other.
We dressed and found Denali and Leah waiting on the main floor for us. Both looked rested and refreshed. “Ready?”
“Ready,” we said in unison. Once again, Denali led the way. I thanked God for his vast knowledge of the land and its inhabitants. We would die a miserable death before the fighting started without his help. I was glad to follow my uncle and knew I would follow him anywhere.
We arrived at the leader's home. It was lovely, but not magnificent. It was built of large stone blocks, like most of the buildings in the town and was modest in size. However, it stood out as being more prestigious than the other homes. The entire town was modest, and this place was no different, yet it boasted a few more flowers along the walkway, and the grass was just a tiny bit greener, and the gray stones looked as though they were polished daily. I liked the house and respected its occupant. I always admired a leader who could lead while remaining modest and connected.
Denali lifted his hand to knock, but the door flung open before he could connect. “Denali, my boy! It is wonderful to see you. Please come in,” said a squat little man with a jolly face. He had fuzzy gray hair that barely covered his round head and dotted his jawline. His eyes were like liquid crystal, and I thought about how easy it would be to fall into those eyes. I was studying the man when I heard Denali say my name. “Lilly, please come meet Mr. Eilian Dowr, he is the timekeeper of Neveah. Eilian this is my niece, Lilly Wagner and this is her husband Shep and his mother Akayleah.” We took turns shaking hands with the timekeeper man. When he came to Leah, he stopped. “Ahh, Miss Akayleah, Queen of the Dark Forest. It is a pleasure to meet you. You are something of a legend here you know. Not many people could or would have lived after having ingested the poison Jax fed to you. Is this your son then?” He asked, looking at Shep. Leah nodded her head and smiled. It seems she was at a loss for words after hearing of her legendary status. “A pleasure to meet you as well son,” he said to Shep. “Yes, you are a very strong family indeed. It is no wonder Kelsha wants a child born of your blood,” he said before turning away from us.
We followed the strange, jolly man deeper into his home. Timekeeper, I thought, well that explains the giant clock that sat on top of his modest house. He seemed to be well informed in regards to my family and Kelsha. I was curious what he knew about my son. I knew he was special and possessed great powers, but I had yet to learn what those powers were. It was frustrating to realize that strangers were more aware of my son’s ability than I was. I had been so preoccupied with the war that I, honestly, didn’t give his ability a second thought. Guess I should pay more attention. I wondered if Leah or Denali knew of James’ ability. I made a mental note to ask them as soon as we finished our visit with Mr. Eilian Dowr.
We followed the man to a small sitting room. The room was housed in glass and sparsely furnished. A round table sat in the center of the room with six chairs arranged around it. On top was an hourglass that I thought was rather large until I spotted the enormous one that sat near the main window. It stood taller than Shep and was beautiful. The sand was trapped in glass that was a prism of colors, depending where the light hit, with a silver casing that had various hourglasses carved into it. The sand falling slowing through the center was mesmerizing. When I broke my own trance with the time teller and looked around the room, I realized there were hourglasses of varying sizes everywhere. Some of them were big, some very small. All were different colors and styles, but none as magnificent as the one by the window. We were in the room that kept time in Neveah, and I felt very small amidst something as large and important as time. The timekeeper was encouraging us to find a spot around the table.
When I sat down I saw the carving of an hourglass on the table and realized that the backs of the chairs were hourglasses themselves. Yes, this was an important room indeed, possibly the most important room in all of Neveah.
“Thank you for having us,” Denali began, and I tried to pull my thoughts from the wonder of the time room. I had to pay attention.
“No my friend, it is you I thank, all of you,” Eilian said, waving his hand in front of all of us. “You see, without your bravery Neveah would already be in ruins. Your resolve to fight for Neveah and its inhabitants has earned the land a little more time.”
“Eilian, how much time do we have? The evil seems to be sweeping through Neveah. I am sure you received word on my father’s death as well as the weakening of the Fey,” Denali began while we listened.
“Yes, and am sorry about your father. He was a wonderful man and one that I called friend. You know he and I worked closely to keep the balance of Neveah intact. Many years ago, his visions and my time manipulation helped create time in Neveah. Before that we were all fused together, nothing moved forward, nothing grew, nothing died. You see we learned time is important for things like growth, evolution, education, and if kept correctly, time is a necessity.
“Unfortunately, time also expires. Time in Neveah moves very slowly, therefore our Creatures and Special’s can live for hundreds of years, unlike time in the Ordinary World,,” he said and looked at Shep and me, as though he was making sure we were listening. We were. I glanced at Shep, who seemed just as entranced with the man as I was.
“I have lived my entire life keeping time. I come to this room many times throughout my day just to make sure the glasses are moving on time. Since the day this room was built and that clock was placed on top of my house the time has kept itself on schedule. Lately though, the sand seems to move a little faster every day. I use my power to slow it down but the evil that is running through Neveah is weakening my strength. Time is running out, Denali.”
“How much time do we have?” I asked.
“It’s hard to say. Without the Fey or Lord Levannah all I can do is slow the time, I can’t predict the future,” he said sadly. “I can tell you that every time I slow the time, a few days later it is moving faster than when I slowed it. I don’t know if I am helping or hurting Neveah by manipulating time.”
&nb
sp; “Thank you for what you have already done to help,” Shep began. “If we stop Kelsha, will the speed of time be restored?” He asked.
“I believe so. I have never had a problem with time, not since Kelsha started her mission to destroy this land.”
“The time is coming. We will fight her, but for now, just do what you have been doing. We will try to finish this as soon as possible,” Shep said, sounding determined and frightened at the same time. Eilian shook his head in response, his face sad. Everyone stood to leave, but I had a question for the timekeeper myself. I didn’t follow them out. Shep turned to me. “You coming, Lill?” He asked. “Actually I would like to ask Mr. Dorw a few questions, if that’s okay with you?” I looked to him for confirmation, and he nodded and sat back in his time chair.
“I’ll only be a minute. I will meet you outside.” Shep looked at me, confusion and worry clear on his face. I looked him in the eyes, trying to be reassuring, trying to convey to him that I would be alright and this is something I had to do. He seemed to understand and reluctantly left the room.
I sat across from the timekeeper who seemed to be ready to answer my question before I asked it.
“You want to know about your son’s power, is that correct?” He asked me, confirming that I was right about him knowing why I asked him to stay.
“Yes,” I responded.
“How is it that you don’t already know?” He asked, though not accusingly. It was more in disbelief.
“Well, on in the Ordinary World, where he was born our powers are different. I grew up never knowing I even had powers, as did Shep. When I went back to have James I never thought about my own powers and never considered that my son had them as well. Since arriving here it has been one fight after the next. I keep hearing references to his powers but not one person has said what the power is and I guess I have been too busy trying to organize a war to think about it. He’s just a baby so I have a hard time understanding how he could be so powerful already. I want to think of him as a baby not a power baby. On the other hand I know that I need to know, if it will help us and judging by everyone’s reaction to James, I think it will.”
“Why ask me though? Surely Denali and Akayleah know how powerful he is.”
“Yes, I am sure they know but like me I think they choose not to think of it. If we acknowledge his power that makes him a pawn in the game, not just a baby, you see, none of us want to consider the possibility that he may be the weapon we need to win,” I said fighting back the tears. Thinking that my son, my baby boy, might be used to fight a war made me sick and terrified but I knew we had to know. We had to win.
“Understood, very well then, I will tell you. He comes from very powerful blood you know. I mean there are Healers, Regenerators, Skinwalkers, Future Readers, Timekeepers,” he said the last word quietly and looked at me beneath those crystal eyes. I was confused. Timekeeper? He read my face and read my confusion.
“It is no mistake that I run time while Adair ran everything else. Adair is my brother. We have lived for so long that few know the relation. We choose to keep it that way. You see all those years ago when we made time, Adair saw this happening. He wasn’t able to see the outcome though, because there was no time yet. We decided it would be safer if the evil didn’t know of my connection to the Levannah family. I would be just another crazy old man that kept time, no one of importance, keeping me out of their scope, allowing me to slow time as much as possible.”
“I understand. Who knows?” I asked.
“Denali knows. I believe he’s the only one that knows. Anyone else that has lived as long as I have has forgotten the connection by now. Adair and I were careful to keep our distance. We only met in secret and only when it was necessary. Things worked that way. They worked for a long time that way.”
“Please, tell me about my son.”
“Your son is one of the most powerful Special’s to have been born. Beyond his healing ability, both for himself and others, he can manipulate time as well. He can actually time travel Lilly. Together, you and Shep can create a sort of shield to protect one another but with James you can do so much more. You see if Kelsha has James, even if she loses the war the first time, she can go back in time with him and do it again. She can do this until she gets it right. That’s why she can never have him. That’s why you have to win this war. You have to beat her.”
Needless to say I was stunned. Things just kept getting more complicated. “Thank you, great uncle,” I said before kissing him on the cheek. I was at the door when he stopped me. “Be safe, Lilly. Your grandfather did see you alive and well after the war. He couldn’t say if you won or lost, just that you lived. Please take your knowledge and win this war. Neveah is counting on you and your husband. Together you can do this. The army and followers is good and all but it’s you two that will win this if it is to be won.”
I had no response. I smiled at him and left him sitting alone with his time. I had to find Shep.
~Chapter Eighteen~
Kelsha had been away from Ellurrah for longer than expected. When she returned, she was promptly greeted by Danu who couldn’t hide his relief at seeing her. His expression worried her. She felt Jax’s hand, which was in Heren form, tighten around her shoulder. He sensed something was wrong as well. “What is it, Danu?” She asked pointedly. She couldn’t visibly see anything wrong with her self-made fortress. Everything appeared to be as she left it, yet her trusted Danu was agitated.
“You have been away a long time Kelsha,” he began clearly hesitant to go on.
“Yes, well, I had things to take care of before the fighting begins. Things to keep everyone safe and ensure our victory,” she replied in hopes of keeping him confident in her.
“Yes, that is what I told everyone, when talk began about your absence. I’m afraid I have some bad news,” he began. His normal vibrant turquoise eyes had fallen to a shade of gray.
“Well, what is it, Danu? Stop being so damn cryptic, tell me!” She demanded.
“It seems Fionna is gone. We have not seen her since your departure and in all honesty I can’t remember seeing her for a while before you left. Maura, her sister, first alerted me to her disappearance. We hoped she was with you, but clearly she is not. I fear something terrible has happened to her and Maura is worried sick.”
“Is that all?” She asked. Danu looked at her, confused. To him, that was enough. Fionna missing had caused his Maura a great deal of worry and grief. He had hoped she would return with Kelsha.
“Yes, well, no. Where is James? Again, we assumed he was with you but obviously I was wrong.” He was waiting anxiously for her to answer him. Kelsha could hear thoughts of doubt creep into his mind. He was her most valuable follower. She couldn’t lose him. She decided the truth was best. Well, most of the truth.
“I had an experience with one of the island inhabitants, a very nasty Creature. I felt it was unsafe to have James here so I sent him and Fionna to Antiope while I dealt with the problem here. That problem has been dealt with but unfortunately Fionna has betrayed us. “
“What has she done?”
“Well, she has gone to the Levannah’s to return James to Lilly. It appears she has chosen to stand with them. I’m terribly sorry. I know how broken up Maura will be to hear of her sister’s betrayal.”
“Are you sure she went to them?” He asked in disbelief.
“Yes. Heren and I went to Antiope to tell her it was safe to return but she was gone. I went to the Levannah Manor and saw her there. It seems she is getting close to one of the Levannah guardians.” Kelsha placed her hands on Danu’s fallen shoulders. She allowed herself to listen in on his thoughts and was pleased to hear that he believed her. He still trusted her, but was worried about his beloved Maura.
“You tell Maura, Danu. She will take the news better from you.” He shook his head in response and kissed Kelsha on the cheek. “I think the time is coming. We need to put a stop to that family,” Danu said with conviction before turning away.
Danu went straight to Maura and told her of Fionna’s betrayal. Kelsha listened to the conversation and was surprised to hear Maura’s contempt. She had thought for sure that Maura would break down and weep for her sister. Rather, she seethed hatred.
“How dare she do such a thing,” she hissed at Danu. She was furious with her sister, but more than that she was shattered by her betrayal. After all they had been through together, how could Fionna do such a thing? Danu comforted the woman when she moved from screaming in anger to crying with grief. Kelsha listened to the entire exchange. She was pleased with Maura’s response. Kelsha knew that Maura was loyal to Danu, if nothing else and she was alright with that. As long as Maura did her part in the fight, Kelsha didn’t care what motivated the woman. Kelsha’s only regret was not finding friendship with Maura. Had she done so, she may not be missing her child right now. Instead, she chose the sister. She trusted Fionna. That was truly her biggest mistake and regret. She shook her head to dispel thoughts of Fionna and turned to Jax, who was of course, walking as Heren. “Come love, all is well here,” she said before marching into her fortress.
Heren hurried behind her. “Everything satisfactory?” He inquired as he followed behind his woman.
“Yes, better actually. I will fill you in when we reach our sleeping room,” she said and picked up speed. She wound through the main hall, where they did a majority of the training. She was pleased to see things progressing nicely. She didn’t feel the need to stop as they were all deep in practice. She thought it best not to disrupt them. Instead, she made her way to the staircase that led to her sleeping room. She climbed the stairs as she listened to the clink of metal and the grunts of the training below her. Her heart swelled with pride. She was happy to be home.
She turned to her Hybrid and smiled. “They are fabulous, are they not!” She said and it was a statement of fact, not a question, however, he answered her as though she had been asking his opinion. “Yes, they are,” he replied as she tried to reach the buttons of her dress.
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