Dominic’s Hourglass
4 Minutes
His head snapped back with a force that nearly broke his neck as he was jerked clear of the liquid just in time. Trying to keep his balance, his hand brushed the surface briefly and it burned like acid. He was thrown backwards onto the sandy shore and squinted up into the angry face of Eva.
‘You stupid, stupid . . .’
‘Calm down, let him breathe.’ Eduardo placed a casual hand on Eva’s shoulder and she was unable to budge. Not that she wasn’t trying. Dom wondered if she would actually hit him. It looked like she wanted to slap his face and he was feeling so weak and dizzy that he wouldn’t be able to stop her.
‘I was just—’ he started, but didn’t know how to explain himself. What was he doing again? He couldn’t remember. He glanced around. He was by the lake and it was dark. Not completely, there was still the last glow of twilight, but it was mostly deserted. He could see David a few feet away still peering intently into the Glass. Despite the gloom and mist that was filling the area he could tell David was crying.
A sudden flash of what he saw shook him. ‘I was trying to find my sister.’
‘And? How did that work out for you?’ Eva snapped. ‘You almost fell in. You’ll burn up if you touch that, you know.’
Dom held up his hand, the blackened skin on it still healing. ‘Satarial. He was down there. He saw me.’
Eva glared at him with only slightly less anger. ‘What? Don’t be ridiculous. That’s not possible. They can’t see us.’
‘How did he get down there?’ Eduardo spoke. He seemed less concerned about whether it was possible. He lifted his hand from Eva and squatted down next to Dom. He looked directly into his eyes and Dom could tell that for the first time since he had met the man, his Guardian was completely sober.
‘Are you sure?’ Eva was still sceptical. ‘You were barely there a moment.’
Dom pursed his lips. ‘I saw her bedroom. Kaide’s bedroom. But she wasn’t there. There was no mess. Not like her. And there was a figure standing there. It was him. The Nephilim. He was watching me.’
‘If he can return to the world, something must be out of balance. I am surprised the Awe would allow it.’
‘Maybe he doesn’t know?’
Eduardo smiled gently. ‘He knows. But the rules that govern this place are the result of millions of years of thought and belief. They evolve very slowly, but they do change. I have seen them change.’
‘There isn’t any time for philosophy, we have to get out of here before he gets all of us torn apart.’ She glared at him. ‘Torn apart, Dom – does that sound good to you? Without the luxury of being able to die!’ She warily scanned the forest and on cue the laughter and howling began.
‘Are they listening to us?’ Dom asked.
‘Of course they are. They are just people. People who have spent too long looking in the mirror.’ Eduardo spoke loudly so that his voice echoed through the forest and he laughed heartily as though there was nothing to be afraid of. ‘Get up, boy, we have to find some way back into the City. The gates are closed and I don’t think it would be wise to sleep among the wolves.’
Dom stood unsteadily and gestured to the crack in the wall he had climbed through with David. The other man continued to gaze into the Glass.
‘David.’ Dom touched his shoulder lightly. ‘We need to go. Come with us.’
David flicked his hand away lightly and murmured, ‘A few more minutes. Just a few more. I’ll make my own way back.’
A low groan came from the mist and a flickering light danced through the trees. Dom followed Eva through the wall, grateful that he wouldn’t witness the demise of his workmate. Whatever that might entail.
Eduardo seemed to negotiate the small hole in the wall easily and walked several paces ahead on the way back to the apartment. Dom and Eva were side by side most of the way. She was still seething and Dom’s own anger grew as they walked.
‘It’s my choice if I want to look, you know. I bet you did it. I bet you still do.’
‘I don’t. It’s dangerous. You start and then you can’t stop. You end up like those poor people in the forest. Wild and mad. And then you stay like that forever.’ She watched him sadly. ‘And forever is a very long time here.’
She seemed suddenly vulnerable and Dom said quickly, ‘Are you angry at me because you don’t like me? Or because you do?’
Eva was startled by the question and stopped walking. She stared at him, but didn’t answer. The crease between her eyebrows made her even more alluring and Dom suddenly lost his nerve.
‘It doesn’t matter.’ He kept walking.
‘Wait.’ She caught up to him and put her hand on his arm for a second. It burned more than the Nephilim’s had. ‘I was worried because I like you.’ She swallowed and they were silent for a moment. ‘I mean, I want you to make it. I think you’ve got what it takes, you know?’ Her face was soft for only a second before it hardened again. Back to her business-face. Dom wondered what had happened to her to make her so harsh.
‘I can’t really “like you”, you know. You’re going to leave and I’m, well, I might be here forever. Even if I went with you through the Maze, I might find myself here again and you could be anywhere. There aren’t any happy endings you know.’
Dom was sure what she had said was meant to discourage him but all he could think about was the phrase ‘if I went with you through the Maze’. He hadn’t known that was a possibility. Suddenly life – he smirked, well death anyway – seemed a whole lot brighter. He changed the subject. ‘You could have told me I’d only earn three minutes. It will take me a century to get out of here.’
A voice from around the corner boomed back.
‘Could anyone use a strong drink?’ It was Eduardo, a smile resonating through his voice.
Eva actually smiled. Her white teeth gleamed in the last faint touch of light. ‘We could and you probably shouldn’t,’ she called back. They walked the rest of the way along the alley together and despite the strong desire to reach out and hold Eva’s hand as it brushed past his, Dom resisted. He considered the odds and decided the likelihood of Eva pulling away was incredibly high.
Kaide would have laughed at him. ‘You always fall for the most difficult girls, Dom. Never the easy ones!’
He sighed. He still had no idea what had happened to his sister, only that she had not come home. He wondered if Satarial had actually been in his sister’s room or if it was just in his mind. He wouldn’t be surprised if it was the latter, but he knew he was going to have to seek out the Nephilim and find out what he knew about his sister. And he would have to do it without telling either his Guide or his Guardian. He considered that thought for a moment then decided he might ask Eduardo. The man was a little broken, but he clearly had strength and honour. He would feel much better seeing Satarial with Eduardo beside him.
‘I’m starving,’ Dom said suddenly. ‘I need tofu!’ Eva laughed a little and steered them to the old tavern, the same dive they had found Eduardo in the night before.