Page 36 of The Unseen Hour (The Unseen Hour Duology #1)

“ W e’ll help you defeat him,” I swore, holding a hand out to Death without thinking. I hastily put it down when the deity didn’t respond, recalling her warning about her deadly touch. “I promise.”

Death held her hands up, interlocking her fingers as they crackled with electric current.

“Excellent. I’ll tell you what we need. What I’m sharing with you is a well-protected secret.

All the deities have our own methods of intervening in Rayus.

Charon’s Shades and my Reapers are some examples.

I was the original, but greatness breeds imitation.

I have an item that connects me to my Reapers.

It essentially binds some of my power to them, so that they can act on my behalf.

Charon has something similar. Two things, actually. He’s nothing if not cautious.”

“What are they, these items that help connect your kind to ours?” Orion asked, stepping toward the deity.

Death tapped a crackling finger on her chin.

“I have a much larger scythe, similar to the smaller ones my Reapers carry. Charon will have followed a similar pattern. Items connected to the ability his Shades are granted. Retrieve those, and then I’ll tell you how we can use them.

By the time this next Unseen Hour is over, the Shades will cease to exist.”

Death grinned, and Orion nodded along, but I gnawed my lower lip.

“Then what will happen to them?”

Death turned back in my direction, her mask creating a blank look.

“Freed Shades would return to the realm in which they belong. Mine. Their souls will be at peace. Able to enjoy their eternities instead of existing as barely existent shadows.”

“And us? We’ll be able to return to our lives? I do still have the antidote for the Thipp’s, which is how we all ended up here in the first place.”

“That won’t help you, but I can. Get me what we need, and I will handle the rest. I do not have the purview to return life, but you aren’t really dead, so it's only a small obstacle. I’ll take care of that part of the plan, and you all retrieve what we need.”

Purpose sparked to life in my chest. This is what I had been waiting for. If I couldn’t find my father on my own, then I needed something else to focus on while Death searched for his soul. The goddess would succeed where I had failed; I was sure of it.

The deity held both her hands out, palms up. I watched, entranced, as she laid out her plan.

“This victory relies on a two-fold strategy. First, you must retrieve the items that Charon has kept secreted away in the Ether. Reunite them, and we are halfway there. Second”—she lifted her left palm—“we use both to stop the hour. But for now, we will focus on step one.”

I fidgeted, thinking as I did so how Mother would have chastised the restless movements. I couldn’t help it. Stillness had never appealed to me.

“What do we need to find?” Orion asked.

I pictured the mighty sword Death was sometimes depicted with in Emrys.

Perhaps they merely had the wielder wrong, and gods did carry weapons.

After all, the Reapers had the scythes that their art associated with Day.

From what I could tell, those in Emrys and the other countries had been right on at least portions of our lore.

“The first item you will be looking for is … a baton.”

I stopped fidgeting, eyes scrunching.

“A baton?”

Death nodded, silvery mask glittering under the blue and green lights that cast the faintest glow at this edge of the forest.

“A conductor’s baton. My brother must tie his ability to his Shades. So we all must, with those who serve us. To share his song with the Shades, he needs a means to control the ability. That is the baton. He sees himself as the grand conductor of this scheme.”

She snorted out a laugh, a shocking sound coming from an immortal being.

It made sense, with music being Charon’s most dangerous weapon.

“You mentioned a second item. What is it? Will they both be kept together?” I asked.

“They will not. I’d wager he’s kept them separated as an extra means of security. It’s what I would do.”

“And do you have another item, in addition to your scythe?”

She grinned, perfect teeth more menacing then dazzling that time.

“That is another secret I think I’ll keep to myself for the time being.”

Orion frowned.

“Would Charon not keep the baton or this second item with him? He is meticulous. Surely he would?—”

“He is also paranoid and growing more and more suspicious of me and the rest of the deities by the day. My brother is closing in on the date of his attempted coup, and he has no desire for me to locate the item on his person. I am somewhat familiar with this realm. I know of a few locations close to his heart. All of us were close, before we weren’t,” Death admitted.

“You called him brother . Are the gods siblings, then?”

Death shook her head, her hair glinting in the changing light.

“No. None of us, in fact. Although we were just as close, once. We’re more like ‘brothers-in-arms’ than real family. We squabble like family, but we’re not related in any way. In fact”—she waved an arm—“never mind. But no, we are in no way truly related.”

“Why did you grow apart?” I asked, still curious at the bit she’d chosen to leave out.

Whatever had come between them, I wanted to avoid getting more involved with the issues of deities than we already were. Fetch the items, end the hour. That was all I wanted. They could settle the rest themselves.

“It was rather more intense than merely growing apart. Don’t worry, the squabbles of the gods should not interfere with your lives. I’m stepping in now because that’s exactly what Charon’s actions are doing. This will not end well for him.”

“And the baton?” Orion asked, taking a step closer to me.

“There are two places he might keep it. One is in a cave at the bottom of a canyon, deep in his forest. It has crystals inside that glitter and glow just as bright as the lights in his night sky here. He used to go there to be alone, away from his creatures and even us. It is a sanctuary to him. That’s where you’ll find help for your leg.

The waters within the cave can also be a place of healing. ”

I had difficulty picturing gods with their own sanctuaries. Who would they worship?

And why would Charon need something that could heal? Unless the gods were more vulnerable than we’d believed.

“They can be wounded, then, the other gods?”

“They can be vanquished,” Death answered, hedging. “Gods can stand against gods. Can you find the canyon?”

Orion dipped his chin.

“We know where it is. I got my leg injury near that location.”

“Good. I don’t envy you the climb down, but I’d suggest starting there. Then, even if it’s not where he’s keeping the baton, you’ll be working with both legs.”

I tensed. From what I remembered of the canyon, it was a steep drop. Any pathways down the sides would probably be narrow and treacherous. I wasn’t looking forward to the trip.

We’d have to be careful, and playing it safe would mean moving slowly as well.

At least we’d be taking care of two tasks at once. We’d been planning to go back to the forest soon anyway to expand our search for Father. We could look for him and the baton at the same time.

“And the other possible location for this baton?” Orion asked.

“The Ether is vast, but it has distinctive areas. The entrance back to Emrys is the farthest northern point, and the Shades are in the central region of his domain. My brother resides in the west, and the forest where you reside, along with the canyon, are in the east. I believe you know most of this. If the baton is not in the canyon, you would need to go south. You will come to an area of vast emptiness—flatlands with grey sands stretching for miles.”

“Like Mejje,” I interjected, recalling its deserts from books I’d read.

Death shook her head.

“Not quite like Mejje. These sands are cold, and the air dark and damp. Eventually you will reach a rocky beach. My brother does love his water, and I’m not sure he even realizes how he stays close to it. There, you will find several large stone formations. The baton may be hidden in one of those.”

“Is there a significance to this spot?” Orion asked.

“If you find it, perhaps you’ll figure that out. Which location he has chosen for the item will also give me some insight into his actions.”

“And once we’ve found the baton?” I asked her.

“You can retrieve the second item. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I do know where Charon will be keeping it. Well, I know the general location. It resides in Charon’s home. It will have something to do with music, I’ve no doubt.”

Orion rounded on the goddess.

“Charon’s home ? We’d have to be mad to go in there. I only go when I’m summoned. He’s got it protected and only allows me access. I’ll retrieve whatever is in there, alone.”

Death threw out her hand, and small arcs of lightning struck the ground.

“No. This will take both of you. I will take care of distracting Charon while you search, making sure he’s kept busy for a while.

In fact, I have him waiting in my realm as we speak, so I’ll need to leave soon.

Once I can ensure he’ll be out of the Ether for a while, I’ll send a lightning strike. That’s your signal to start searching.”

“But what if?—”

Death put up a palm, stopping Orion before he really began.

“I almost forgot. It matters how you transport the items. Orion, you should hold the baton. You’ve got years of experience as Head Shade, and I think you’ll tolerate the power in it easier.

That means that only Celia should hold the other item.

Both contain large amounts of magic, and I’m not sure either of you would be able to handle both items, since they’re meant for gods.

I recommend you not risk it, unless you’d like to see my realm first-hand. ”

Orion ran a hand through his hair, the brown and coppery strands pulled back from his face.

“Respectfully, goddess, how am I supposed to get Celia into Charon’s home, when it’s built to keep Shades and other creatures of the Ether out?”

Death patted the air above his head as though he were a favored pet but avoided actually touching him with her crackling hand.

“I can help with that. Let it never be said that I’m not the most generous of all the deities. Now then, I’ll need you to hold hands.”

We did so, and she waved her own hands over ours, sparks of lightning emitting from them.

“There!” she declared after a few moments.

“When you first enter the boundary of Charon’s property, you’ll be able to pass through.

Once you’re in, you’re each free to wander about as you wish.

Celia just has to make it past the barrier of the grounds.

When you find the object, leave as quickly as you can.

Remember, watch for my lightning, then go.

I’ll meet you here again when I’m able. Best of luck. ”

Death turned to walk away, then spun back around.

“Oh. One more thing. I should warn you that you may not be the only ones looking. Keep both eyes open.”

“May Day and Death protect us,” I whispered out of habit.

Death tilted her head.

“Day does not deign to involve himself in human matters. Day ensures you all are born, and then leaves you largely to your own devices. Truly, I do believe he gets too much credit. Now then, get to work, and I will see you soon.”

Lightning struck the ground, and she was gone.

“Shall we get started?” Orion asked, already picking up the items we’d brought with us to the Meadow.

“Yes.”

We had a deadline, and I intended to meet it.