Page 19 of The Unseen Hour (The Unseen Hour Duology #1)

T he events of the previous evening had shaken me, but when I woke the following morning, I was refreshed and determined to get answers. Before getting up, I patted the Thipp’s antidote in my pocket, reassuring myself that it was still there. I left my satchel tucked underneath the blanket.

This morning, I was going to do whatever it took to convince Orion to help me.

I’d made it this far, against all odds. There had to be a way to find my father, and a way out.

If the Shades entered the Ether in that open field that led to the Meadow, it made sense that one could exit from there as well.

Resolute, I threw the cover off, wishing for a fresh change of clothes.

A quick glance told me Orion wasn’t anywhere in the small cottage.

Surely he wouldn’t leave me alone? When I opened the door, though, he was nowhere to be seen.

I was hesitant to call out for him, not knowing what else might show up.

As I scanned the trees, I noticed something that had me stumbling back.

It’s still dark.

Bluish moonlight filtered through the trees. Brighter now than before, but there was no sunny sky that I could see. There was a colorful flash between several of the trees. Those same dancing lights that I’d seen in the forest when we’d arrived at his home.

“Orion?” I called.

He didn’t answer. He’d told me to stay inside, but I couldn’t accomplish anything alone in front of his fireplace.

“I’ll be right back anyway,” I reasoned aloud to myself.

Decision made, I wandered away from the path we’d come in on the night before, and farther into the woods.

Not far from Orion’s home, I walked into a clearing, and the vibrant colors had me throwing a hand over my brow.

The sky was filled with those same ribbons of lights, but these were purple and orange, and even brighter now.

I missed the blue and greens of the previous night.

They’re the same blue as the specks dancing in Orion’s eyes.

I was mentally chastising myself for that frivolous thought when something tapped me on the shoulder.

“Bloody ghosts!” I jumped a good foot in the air, and when I whipped my head around I saw Orion, laughing behind his hand.

The sound of his laughter set my heart fluttering, or maybe it was just nerves.

“Is this how ladies have been talking since I went away? Well, well.”

He was smirking. It was the closest to happy that I’d seen him.

I winked, hoping to keep his smile in place. I much preferred it to the somber Head Shade I’d first met.

“We talk how we like. At least I do. You should know, though, I’m no model of the ideal lady. Not by the queen’s standards and not by my mother’s, either. In fact, I’m afraid that I’m somewhat of a societal disappointment compared to many ladies,” I admitted.

“And I’d wager neither your mother nor the queen got themselves in a mess like getting Taken to the Ether,” he teased, still grinning.

I took a step closer to him, remembering how much warmer it had been when he’d held my hand. It was still cold out, though not nearly so bad as it had been with Charon in the Meadow.

If he was in a positive mood, then this was as good a time as any.

I took a deep breath, willing myself to hold my nerve.

“It’s clear that you’ve got a whole life constructed down here, and I don’t mean to disrupt that, but I have no intention of staying.

I’m here with a purpose. I have someone I need to find, and if I’m right he’s been down here for four years now.

Once I’ve found him, I intend to go home.

And I think I have the beginnings of a plan.

If it works, you’re welcome to come with us.

” I tacked the last bit on as a bargaining chip, although I had no way of knowing whether Orion even wanted to leave.

He must, though, with an entire world waiting for us back home.

Either way, I’d made plenty of antidote, assuming that method was at all helpful.

Fully prepared, that was me. Ambrose and my mother would have been so proud, and then equally disappointed that I didn’t put my efforts towards more acceptable pursuits.

“You’d be back in Emrys again,” I prompted when he didn't respond.

Orion ran one hand over the stubble on his chin.

“Finding another Shade like us would be the easiest part of what you're suggesting, and even that could take quite some time. Are you actually saying you have a way to get back to Emrys, and stay there?”

I’d mastered the art of inane conversation and providing just enough information to keep the conversation moving when it was necessary. I couldn’t do the same here. What I was asking of him was enormous, and I had to give more if I wanted something that important in return.

“I was Taken because I poisoned myself with Thipp’s root; not enough to die, but nearly that amount. It was a close call, if I’m being honest.”

His face darkened into a scowl. I was well aware of how it sounded. I’d put myself at great risk on purpose.

“I had no intention of really dying, only getting down here to enact the rest of my plan,” I assured him, “and I brought along the antidote. That’s how I hope to leave.

There’s plenty for all of us. If you can guide us to the Ether’s entrance, it could work.

I still have my body, and you still have yours.

We just need to get home. If we can enter, there must be a way to exit, right?

Well, anyway, that’s my plan. What do you think, Lord Holmes? ”

I straightened my shoulders.

He blinked at me.

“There’s no need for that. Orion is just fine.”

Even without him holding my hand, I felt warmer. My use of the title might indeed be ridiculous, because I addressed Charlotte and Thomas by their first names. It was done fairly often in my time, but it hadn’t been in his.

A hundred years ago, using his given name would have been a serious expression of intimacy.

Then again, I was his only company. That could easily explain it. It probably didn’t mean anything special.

“All right. Orion . Will you help me?”

“The Thipp’s antidote is clever, there’s no denying that, but I’m not sure it will work. You can’t just waltz out of the Ether, you know. It’s not a door that you can open at your leisure.”

My shoulders slumped, but I rallied. I was here, and I had a potential ally.

“I managed to come down here just fine. I already know the location where I came in, even if I don’t know how it works. There must be a way, though.”

Because if there wasn’t, I’d be in the Ether for an eternity, and I was nowhere near prepared to accept that fate.

“Logic doesn’t come into play much in the Ether,” Orion muttered.

I was undeterred. He might be somewhat surly, but the conversation could have gone much worse.

My whole plan could have gone much worse. I could have died, or Charon could have caught me, or I could have been alone in my endeavors. This was still, relatively speaking, the best-case scenario.

“You’ve been down here for quite some time. I’d wager you’ve gleaned at least some information that could be useful to our aims.”

Orion sighed.

“You’ve got your location correct but your assumptions wrong.

You think you’ll be able to exit the Ether because you’re still alive.

And I’m here to tell you it wouldn’t matter.

The Shades all leave the Ether once a year, and only once a year.

At the onset of the hour they return to Rayus, and then come back to the Ether again when the hour is over.

It’s how Charon lures souls down here. Shade song. ”

I put a hand to my head. The forest spun around me.

“The Shades return to Emrys and the other kingdoms? All of them? Song. Is that … I thought I heard music, but?—”

“Do you need to sit down? Maybe try a few deep breaths.”

I hauled air into my lungs, staying on my feet but leaning against a nearby tree trunk.

Orion was right. I’d relied on my living status to be part of my exit strategy.

Being able to leave regardless was excellent.

I could blend in with the Shades, and Charon would be none the wiser.

But only being able to leave during the hour?

My family would be without me for a year. My friends. Pellix.

By the time I returned, they would have held a funeral, mourned me.

I’d tried to be a good daughter, and instead I’d ended up hurting everyone else I loved.

This was always a possibility. You’ll still return home, and they’ll just be happy to have you both back. Come on Celia, rally!

What was done, was done. This gave me a year to find my father, and a year to process what my decision was putting the rest of my family through back in Emrys. Now, though, I had to handle what was in front of me.

I stared up at Orion. Even if I hadn’t been slouched against a tree, he would have been taller than me by several inches.

“You admit there’s a way back. You know the way the Ether works, and I have the antidote we could try once we’re actually in Emrys. If we truly have to wait for the next hour, that leaves us a year. We could work as a team. Please? Wouldn’t you do anything to rescue someone you loved?”

He stared at me for several seconds, the flecks in his eyes, as I’d thought, a perfect match for the lights from the previous evening.

“All right. I’ll try and help you, but don’t get your hopes up. As I told you, there’s no one else down here like us. I don’t want to raise your expectations only for you to end up disappointed.”

“But he could have hidden from you. Maybe he’s got his own spot in the woods, staying safe from you and Charon. You’re Head Shade, so maybe he didn’t trust you?”

It’s possible I shouldn’t, either.

But he’d been nothing but kind so far, and it’s not as if I had other options. I’d much rather work with Orion than face an unknown realm alone.

Orion was staring at me again, studying me .

He cleared his throat.

“Fine. We’ll look. That’s all I can promise.”

I nodded, trying to appear as though I’d anticipated the answer all along. In truth I was ready to fall back against the tree again with relief, but I didn’t want him to think he’d paired himself with a weak ally.

“Then let’s get going.” I turned on my heel, fully prepared to march straight back to the Meadow.

“Right now?”

“Yes, of course. No time better. Although”—I glanced down at myself—“I think I would like that change of clothes after all, and at some point I’ll need to wash these.”

“They’ll be loose on you, but you can wear some of my other clothes.”

It didn’t take long for him to lead us back to his small home in the woods. The clothes he’d offered me the previous evening were sitting folded on the chair that sat near the fire.

“They’ll be too big, but we can belt the pants and roll the sleeves.”

Before I could even ask, he stepped out and closed the door behind himself.

I changed quickly. As soon as I’d removed Temple’s riding breeches, I realized how good it felt to be out of the dirty garments.

I longed for a bath, but that would have to wait.

It wasn’t as if there was a tub inside the cottage. I’d have seen it immediately.

After tugging on the new trousers and a soft, long-sleeved linen shirt, I felt much better.

The trousers were a light tan, the shirt a muted blue.

Both were too large, as expected. I found some rope on a shelf that could be used as a belt.

The shirt sleeves took several attempts to fix, but eventually I rolled them tightly enough that they stayed at my wrists.

I threw the Shade’s cloak Orion had given me yesterday over the attire, already anticipating the chill of the Meadow .

“Ready!” I announced, throwing the door open.

Orion raised an eyebrow at my outfit, but if he had any negative opinions, he was smart enough to keep them to himself.

“In that case, Celia Hipnosi, let’s show you the Ether. I didn’t have time to tell you much about your new surroundings yesterday, but this walk will be a good opportunity. After all, if we’re partners, I should try to make sure you don’t get yourself killed before you can return home.”

His tone had left open to interpretation whether or not he was kidding.