~Kezziah
Time raises his eyebrow at me skeptically.
He might be trapped behind a magical barrier within a cave like prison, however, it hasn’t yet scared him beyond a small irritation. He knows he has more power than us. Maybe it’s equal to his brothers, but he has confidence. I’m going to sit here in the cold until I can see all that confidence seep away into nothing.
“Take away the brand and lose all connection to you?” Time says, tilting his head to the side, mocking confusion. I roll my eyes, knowing he couldn't care less about that. “You know I like you so much, Kezziah.”
Alden steps up, close to the barrier, but not close enough to step over the threshold. “You can cut the act now, you know. You’re not getting out of here.”
Time doesn’t react to Alden in the slightest.
“Now, I get this was a fun little project between you all, but I have things to do, and if you don’t let me go now, bad things will happen to everyone you know,” Time says, to which Thought laughs aloud. Time growls under this breath. “And you brother. Petty aren’t you, using other people just to get revenge on me.”
Thoughts shrugs his shoulders. He’s like the calmer, more subdued version of Time. The more moral version of him too. I think Time knows that, and I think it bothers him a lot. I’m happy to be apart of Thoughts revenge.
“No harm in taking you down a peg. You’re not very self aware,” Thought says calmly. Time shakes his head, clearly more than just irritated.
This is exactly what I wanted.
“Anyways, I have a lovely cabin I’ve taken Kezziah to before just up the road. Why don’t we go spend the night there out of the cold, and come back tomorrow to see if Time has the same attitude,” Alden says, clapping his hands together. Thought nods silently, and I murmur my agreement, hoping that would be enough time to make him aware.
“Yes, I like that idea, Alden,” Thought comments, turning to face his brother. “Have a good night. I hope the sound of the snow falling is enough to keep you company. I know people come up here to be alone, alot.”
Time takes a step backward. “You’re all pathetic for thinking this will work. I think I’ll quite enjoy this break.”
I doubt that.
We returned back to the house and slept for the night, me in Alden in one room, Thought in the other. I couldn’t get any actual sleep, though. I was too busy thinking about Time, and what he would be thinking about all alone in that cave. I wonder if he is grateful for what he has done, and whether he is starting to feel lonely. His true weakness.
By the time morning had come, I had only caught a few hours. We decided to take our time getting ready and having breakfast. It was nice to sit down in the warmth and talk to Thought. He seems kind, not hating his brother, only wishing he could improve.
We headed back down to the cave around noon. Snow has settled on everything, leaving a thick blanket over rocks and even the path we walk down to get there.
Time can’t get cold. Unfortunately.
“Well, you finally decided to show up,” we hear Time say as we approach. Looking into the cave, I see him leaning up against the wall. He has that typical trademark smile on his face, however, this mussed hair and shadows under his eyes betrays him. He doesn’t look like he go any sleep at all.
“Have a good night? We did,” Alden says, brushing snow off his gloves. Time raised an eyebrow, fully aware of how good our night would have been. All he had was an empty cave that leads nowhere, and a view of the mountains. And silence. A lot of that.
“Wasn’t too bad. Nice to have a night to myself for once,” Time mutters, not letting his smile falter for a moment.
I don’t believe that for a second…
“Alright, then I suppose you won’t mind us leaving then,” Thought comments. We all turn away, but Time calls us back so suddenly I wanted to laugh, but for some reason, I felt somehow bad. He deserves this, though. He killed my family. He deserves all the bad things in the world to happen to him.
He comes forward as close as he can get to the barrier. “Look, this is simply a waste of my time. I cannot remove the brand right now, I need as many travellers as I can get. But I have important things to attend to that I suggest you let me out for.”
“See you tomorrow,” Thought farewells. This time, we walk away despite all his complaints and protests. It felt good, leaving him there. Letting him suffer…
Just like I had.
It took a week for anything to happen. Time is a stubborn male, that’s for sure. Each day he seemed to wake having no sleep, however, he didn’t seem bothered by that, considering immortals don’t need sleep. Just rest, and it doesn’t seem like he’s been getting anything.
It came to the point where Alden was considering giving up, and Thought was having things come up he needed to attend to. I decided I needed to do something. So while Alden was fast asleep, I kissed his cheek and slipped out of bed.
This might be a bad idea, however, this might be our last chance to crack Time. If he hates being lonely, I’m not sure why he is lasting this long.
I’ll hopefully change that soon.
Soft snow falls as I hop out of the car with a flashlight, walking down the path to the cave. The snow crunches under my feet, giving away my approach immediately. I simply walk confidently toward Time, swinging my flashlight back and forth. He comes to the barrier as I approach, shielding his eyes from the blinding light.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise?” Time says, raising his eyebrow at me. I set my flashlight down on the ground, giving it enough light to see him. He’s made some kind of bed out of packed snow. It almost makes me feel bad for him.
“I wanted to talk to you,” I comment, sitting down on the snow outside the magic barrier. “Without Thought and Alden that is.”
“I see.”
Luckily, Time doesn’t seem overly confident like he was the other past days. He sounds like he is going to genuinely listen to me, which is refreshing. Time himself sits on a rock opposite me, the barrier between us still going strong. Through the magic, I could touch him if I liked, however, he could grab me, drag me in and kill me if he pleased.
“Why are you here, fighting for something you don’t want? I know you hate this isolation,’ I remind him, motioning back to the endless landscape of beautiful snow capped mountains. For an immortal who has seen all in his life, I can’t imagine it’s all that fascinating.
“Once all these travellers are gone, I won’t have anyone,” he admits, shrugging his shoulders. I’m surprised. This is the first time I’ve heard him be honest.
That is, if he is even being honest.
“Well you have your mate now, don’t you?” I say. I don’t particularly think Time deserves happiness, however, anything to get him off my back will do. Time doesn’t seem to see through that, as he loosens a sigh, looking the snow at his feet. He looks solemn, and I sense he is aware his mate may not take to him so well.
“It won’t be difficult for her to reject me. And then what?” he questions. It’s genuine concern, too. Not a front he is putting up. I’m assuming he has given up, now. The isolation has finally gotten into his head.
I consider for a moment how best to answer him. “If she rejects you, I suppose you should simply accept that. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try your hardest to keep her.”
Time bites the bottom of his lip, contemplating that.
“I promise you, I’ll do everything to keep her. No matter what,” Time says, and as I look deep into his eyes, within those molton gold depths, I believe him. I believe that despite what he has done, there is a shred of feeling within him. A part of him that is capable of feeling what love is, and another that knows how to cherish it.
Sitting forward more, until the tip of my nose practically touches the barrier of magic, I see my chance to strike. “So please, take these brands away. From all of us. Free yourself, and concentrate on who your truly care about, because I know it’s not me. It’s Rosie.
Time’s jaw clenches, and for a moment I’m convinced he is bothered by my request, seeing right through my facade to care about him in his mate.
However, he finally give in. “Bring my brother here right now then. And your mate. I’ll remove your brands and free you from me forever.”