Page 56 of The Unseen Hour

“Six!” I exclaimed.

“Yes. Five boisterous men, and me. Hardly fair, is it?” She leaned even closer, and I got the distinct feeling she was winking at me from behind the mask.

I grinned, drawn in immediately.

“It is exhilarating to see another woman in a position of such authority, even if the purview is a bit⁠—”

“Macabre?” Death supplied.

I grimaced.

“Yes. I would say that.” I still had no desire to upset a god, but Death was charming. As much as anyone I’d ever come across in Emrys. It was also exciting to have someone else to talk to who would answer back.

Frowning, I turned to Orion.

“I thought you said Charon was using the Shades under the noses of the other deities. If Death is aware of what he’s doing …”

Death laughed again.

“Charon does not know that I know. When I meet with him, I summon him to my own realm. As fun as it is being worshipped across Rayus, we each have our own space to escape to. I invite Charon, and that’s when I pop down here, knowing he’s stewing over how long I’m keeping him waiting. It’s best to do your snooping when you know you won’t be interrupted, wouldn’t you say?”

That was something on which I agreed with her. I beamed at the deity.

“Call this a hunch, Celia, but I think you and Orion are going to help create a very interesting event. Very interesting indeed,” she said conspiratorially.

I set my shoulders back, barely daring to breathe and determined not to look away. Death was so close that the hairs on my arms stood on end from her static. As if lightning might strike again at any moment.

Strange, I always pictured the embrace of Death as a chilled, empty thing. Not a striking, warm surge of power.

It didn’t create the same comfort as Orion, particularly not when Death began to circle me.

“Orion here has been helping to gather some information for me ever since I discovered my brother’s little attempted coup. Perhaps you’d like to join him? I could make it worth your while. There must be something you want.”

My father. My father and a guarantee that my plan to get home would work. But something even bigger shoved its way in front of those concerns. If I did get him back, I never wanted to risk losing those I loved to the hour again.

My father had tried to get to the Ether because he wanted to protect his entire family. I would do the same. I’d protect everyone, if I could.

“Could you end the Unseen Hour?”

Death smiled.

“I am already attempting that. That’s what I’ve been working toward, and why I’ve enlisted Orion’s help. Now that you’re here, I think we might just stand a chance. I will, however, have to put some thought into our methods. If you help, how could I repay you personally?”

A generous god. I doubted even more that she had been the one to curse us, or had any involvement in Charon’s actions. Did gods who cursed your country go around handing out benevolent favors?

Small sparks jumped to life on Death’s arms before I could respond, and the deity spun around, agitated.

“Charon grows impatient. Think of what I’ve said. I’ll return soon.”

Lightning struck the ground, inches from my face, and Death vanished. The only sign she’d been present at all was a small tendril of white smoke rising from where the lightning had hit the Meadow.

I stared at the spot where the deity had stood, cursing the missed opportunity.

Orion laid a hand on my shoulder.

“Don’t worry. She’ll return. We’ll ask about your father then.”

I sank into him, and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder.