Page 46 of The Unseen Hour (The Unseen Hour Duology #1)

W e’d headed west before the lights had even changed fully to purple and orange. We hadn’t even made it halfway to the Meadow when fog swirled. It circled Orion like a tornado.

“Celia, I’m sorry, but?—”

The cold of the Ether was nothing to the chill that struck deep in my bones.

“Does he know?”

What were the odds that the god of the Ether would summon Orion just after we’d returned from stealing a prized magical object from him?

Low, I was willing to bet.

“Can you refuse? Could we run?”

Even if we made it north of the Meadow and to the Ether’s entrance, it wouldn’t open until the hour. Maybe we could call Death? I had no idea how, but my mind raced trying to come up with a solution.

“I can’t refuse him. I haven’t shown you this, but I suppose you’re about to see. I get the fog as a warning; then he pulls me to him.”

I was trying to wave the fog away.

“What do you mean, he pulls you?”

Orion grabbed my hands. “Look, this could be a good thing?—”

“A good thing! You could be killed!”

“He’s not killed me yet. I’ll be able to find out what he knows this way, and I’ll do everything I can to share that with you. Go back to the cottage and wait there.”

“I will not! I’ll keep going. At least to the edge of the Meadow.”

That was where Death tended to meet us. If I could get the other deity to intervene, that seemed the most likely spot.

I threw my arms around Orion, but he pried me off.

“I’m sorry, Starlight. I don’t know what would happen if you do that. Look, you’re about to see something disconcerting. But I’m all right. You need to remember that. Don’t panic. I’ll be o?—”

In front of my eyes, Orion faded into the fog, and then that dissipated as well.

I stared for a few moments, wide-eyed, at the empty space in the woods in front of me.

Then, I screamed.

For several chaotic moments I was certain I’d just seen the man I loved die. He’d already told me that Charon had disintegrated some of the Shades when they didn’t do what he wanted, and the other people who had made it to the Ether alive.

But, he’d said ash . There was nothing left of Orion. And he’d gone with the fog .

I took several shaky breaths in and out, still too fast and shallow to actually be much help.

He’d told me he was all right. He’d acted like he knew something was coming for him.

Come to think of it, I’d never seen him go to Charon.

Not really. He’d left when he saw the fog, and then I’d assumed he’d walked the full way.

But that made no sense. Given that Charon’s residence was west, well past the Meadow, Orion couldn’t have traversed the distance and back to his cottage in the time he’d managed in the past.

Somehow, Charon had transported him via the fog.

I put a hand to my head, feeling like I might fall over.

It was almost too much to wrap the mortal mind around, but it had to be right. The alternative was unacceptable.

“I’ll follow him. I’ll keep heading to the Meadow.”

And if I didn’t meet with Death on the way, I’d keep going. I would walk all the way to Charon’s if I had to. Without Orion touching me, I wouldn’t be able to get on the grounds. At least according to what Death had said when she’d connected the two of us.

It didn’t matter. If I needed to, I would stay outside whatever border his estate had and throw stones, yell, and shake the gates until he saw me.

I didn’t want to die, but I would risk anything for Ry.

I ran, my satchel bouncing on my back. The path between the trees had become familiar, and I leapt over twisted roots and ducked low branches without a second thought. I’d never been so coordinated, but memory served me well.

I only slowed when the trees grew sparse and I could see the Meadow. A few of the glowing orb moths floated by in front of me.

We were getting closer to the hundredth hour, and Orion was right about the Shades. They moved quicker and farther afield. Their faces, from what I could see, were still impassive. But some zig-zagged in erratic patterns as they floated above the flowers. Certainly more animated than in January.

My mind made up, I approached the Meadow on my own. There wasn’t any sign of Orion or Charon. No chill, and no fog. If the god of the Ether was distracted with his Head Shade, then he wasn’t watching me.

I took a deep breath.

“I could use some help! We got what you wanted, but he’s got Ry!”

A few of the Shades looked over at me, in itself a sign that they were more attentive, but Death didn’t respond.

She’d never given us a way to summon her. She just appeared when she wanted to. I’d accepted it because she was on our side, and we needed the help, but at that moment I resented it.

Why did our nature as humans give the gods a right to toy with us? From what I could see, they weren’t superior in any way that mattered. They were more powerful, but not more moral. Not more compassionate. Not kinder in any way.

Even Death was willing to put us at risk.

I knew I wasn’t being fully fair. She was risking the only two half-Shades she had available, to end the hour and save countless lives, but I was desperate for Orion and in no emotional state to be charitable.

“Come down here! Please!” I had no idea if she could hear me. “He’s got Ry, and Ry has what you wanted us to get!”

The baton was in Orion’s satchel, and if Charon figured that out, we truly were in trouble.

In return for my screams, I got nothing but a few Shades floating in my direction, weaving around me but giving me a wide berth.

I didn’t see my father, but then again I no longer expected to.

I’d have to rely on Death for that, because I’d run out of other places to look.

One more thing that depended on a deity when I wanted to do it myself.

I needed to be stronger.

I’d keep going to Charon’s, but I knew my chances of success were slim. I screamed one last time, dropping to my knees.

Static danced across my skin; the hair on my arms rose and the air crackled. I hiccupped, looking at the sky, but still no Death.

Confused, I stood, wiping down the feeling on my arms. The static that told me if I touched the wrong thing I’d be shocked. But if Death wasn’t in the Ether, then how …

Lightning slammed into the ground, forcing me to stumble back.

“You’re making quite the racket, little human,” the goddess observed, this time wearing a mask the color of champagne.

“Death! I need your help. Charon summoned Orion, and he’s got the baton, and?—”

I ran for her, hands out. She backed away with a frown, putting an arm out to stop me. I was less than an inch from touching her when I remembered. The hairs on my arm rose again, and I could tell I was being shocked, but I was too concerned about Orion to care.

And I hadn’t touched her, so it wasn’t too bad.

“Slow down. Now, what has Charon done this time? Did you get the baton?”

I nodded.

“Yes. We got it. The two of us were headed here, and then Charon’s, for the second item.

Orion is carrying the baton in his satchel, but he got summoned by Charon.

He disappeared into fog. He said he’d be all right, but if Charon realizes what’s happened …

is that why he called for him? Could he know? ”

Death tilted her head, maddeningly silent for several moments.

“No. No, I don’t think so. I saw him recently and he was agitated at me, but he didn’t give any indications of fear. If anything, he’s growing more aggressive, confident. I’d say he’s still convinced he’s going to be victorious.”

“Then Orion is safe?” All my muscles were tense, ready to leap into action and run after him if the answer was no.

“I should think so, unless you run in and cause a scene. That would take the odds of survival for both of you down considerably.”

I sagged, partially in relief and a bit in defeat.

“Then how do I help him? Even if it’s likely he’s all right, we can’t be sure. If I don’t go after him and something happens. If he’s hurt?—”

“Then it will be up to you to help finish this hour. Small human, I have no desire for the half-Shade to be hurt. I’ve enjoyed our talks these past decades.

But if you enter Charon’s personal grounds now, you’re doing nothing but increasing Orion’s risk.

Although, if he is with Charon that means the god of the Ether is distracted. Which presents us with an opportunity.”

“An opportunity?”

I tensed again. More items to find?

“I think you should learn a bit more about the other gods. Odos’s interference showed me that my fellow deities are growing as restless as I am. You should know who and what you’re up against.”

I couldn’t have agreed more, although I wished she’d thought to share sooner.

I kept looking past her.

“And it may distract you from your paramour for the moment. Hear me out, and we’ll wait for him to return. ”

“What do we do once he’s back? If he’s just been to Charon’s, if the god is feeling paranoid, then can we still go after the second item?”

“You leave Charon to me. I’ve seen him recently, so it may look suspicious if I call him again, but I can certainly goad one of the other deities into causing some trouble. Once Orion has returned, I will leave and make sure that Charon stays occupied while you find the other item we need.”

I let out a deep breath. I still didn’t like Orion’s absence, but this might have turned out to be a good thing.

If Death knew our exact timing, she would be better able to keep the god of the Ether away from us.

It would be the best and possibly only opportunity to get the second item without worry that he would descend on us the minute we crossed his gates.

“All right,” I agreed.

Death smiled, perfect teeth shining as she clapped her hands together.

“Good. Then it’s time you learned about the other gods.”