“Our present,” Demeter murmured as she began to look unsettled. “I have the oddest feeling that I'm not supposed to have a present.”
And you're right,Al said.
I really did kill her, didn't I?I asked him.
You really did,he confirmed. Boy, did you.
“And ve are supposed to be together,” Kirill said as he pulled me against his chest. “Aren't ve, Tima?”
“I think so,” I whispered. “You and...”
“Your other husbands.” Kirill nodded. “I know zat I don't get to have you to myself; I can feel it. But it doesn't bother me. I love you, Vervain; if I have to share you, I am content vith zat.”
“How sweet,” Demeter muttered.
“One more word from you, and I'll roast you now instead of later,” I growled.
“Roast?” Demeter's eyes went round and distant. Then she whispered, “You're the reason I'm afraid of fire.”
“Yeah, well; I don't have that ability this time around,” I admitted. “So, that's not what you have to fear.”
“No; you'll just drain my magic,” she said bitterly.
“Do you really think that you're innocent?” I asked her. “That you don't deserve to die?”
“I behave just as I was taught to,” she said flippantly. “I am a product of my race; a being of magic and power. This is the way of the Gods.”
“Not all gods,” I corrected.
“Whatever.” Demeter rolled her eyes. “You may be interested to know that I found some information on Aion.”
“What? Will it help us kill him?” I asked as I went over to her desk.
I glanced at a framed picture of Persephone as a little girl that was set facing Demeter. An ache took hold of my chest, and I knew for certain that just as Demeter should be dead, my friend should be alive. I looked down at the book Demeter held; vowing to myself that I would fix things.
“Aion can only change an aspect of history once.” Demeter tapped the page. “So, whatever he's done; if we undo it, he cannot go back and try again.”
“That's reassuring,” I said as I scanned the page. “An hourglass? Really?”
“Vhat about hourglass?” Kirill asked.
“It's his weakness,” Demeter said with a vicious smile. “Aion is the God of Cyclical Time. An hourglass is the perfect representation of that; the way you can turn it over and over. Break one and cast the sands over Aion, and he freezes; as if his time has been stopped.”
“How long does it last?” Kirill asked.
“An hour,” I said as I looked up at him. “The same amount of time that is cast upon him.”
“More zan enough time to kill him,” Kirill pointed out.
“Or deal with his murdering cohort before we deal with him,” Demeter said.
“We'd better get a few hourglasses just in case,” I added.
“We'll take a whole bag full of hours with us,” Demeter said as she stood. “Those gods will never know what hit them.”
Chapter Fourteen
Kirill, Demeter, the humans, and I traced to Bilskinir Hall to find my husband pacing anxiously before the tracing room.
