“You may speak freely in front of Nikai,” Four told them. His tone left no room for debate.
Nikai smiled reassuringly. He was discreet. As Head Reaper, he had to be. Though it felt like Four simply wanted him around now to annoy the other King.
“Why did you call for me?” Four asked.
“The soul of the woman in that taxi will leave her body soon, but since it has not been collected, it is not too late for you to return it to her,” One replied.
Nikai swallowed his shock. It wasn’t his place to question any of the Kings, but what One was suggesting—saving the life of the woman and thus, her unborn child—was absurd. Didn’t the ancient tenets forbid the Kings from interfering in human affairs?
Undisturbed by One’s request, Four was a picture of calm. “I have no reason to do anything,” he said, his grin crooked and taunting.
Nikai stared at the shiny buckles of his well-polished shoes. He didn’t want to be caught up in a feud between Kings.
“I only need the woman for the birth of the child,” One said, “and it looks like that could happen in a matter of hours. You can have her soul back after that. The timing will be of no difference to you and your Court.”
“If the child is meant to live, it will,” Four replied coolly. “Death is our dominion; life is not ours to give. You know this.” He brushed the lint off his coat, his smile widening to reveal his canines. But there was no humor or amusement in it. “And as I was once told, the red threads of fate are not beholden to us.”
He’s upset, Nikai thought, seeing through Four’s smile. But it wasn’t anger Nikai sensed, but something closer to regret.
One’s expression softened. “No, Brother, fate does not owe us anything,” they said gently. “But I am here because there was a sign from the skies tonight. Did you see the green light heading east? The spirit trail of a dying star has appeared, which means an anomaly has occurred in the human realm. I followed that green light, and it pointed me here to this child. The child may be valuable to the mortal realm, chosen for a greater purpose, and so, it must live.”
Four regarded the taxi.
Nikai stared too. The feathery soul insidewasdifferent, but he didn’t have the words to explain why. It was like looking at a shade of blue and not being able to give its exact name, only understanding it was different from all other shades of blue.
“Anomalies are rare,” was all Four said.
“Then you should know how important this is,” One said. “I saw the dying star’s spirit trail with my own eyes. I am certain of what it is. Fate wants this child to live. Why else would the child be here in the jurisdiction of the only King who possesses the means to intervene?”
One nodded at the black-and-gold watch on Four’s wrist.
Nikai didn’t know much about the timepiece, just that it was a mysterious underworld artifact and that Four always wore it on his person. The Kings collected such artifacts during their travels, storing them for safekeeping. Four’s watch was said to have the power to intervene in the sacred and inevitable cycle of life and death.
“You know as well as I do that this artifact is not to be used lightly, for the consequences could be dire. The last time...” Four trailed off, his expression darkening.
The last time?Nikai couldn’t believe his ears. As far as he knew, the watch was never to be used.
“It will not be like the last time,” One assured. “Thistime, fate has determined the child shall live.”
“I do not trust fate,” Four said, a note of bitterness creeping into his voice.
“Fate binds us, connects us through past, present, and future. Our trust or distrust plays no part. It simply is,” One said.
Four turned to the taxi again. As he stared, Nikai caught a look in his eyes. It was hopeful. It was greedy. It was the look of someone driven to desperation.
Four blinked and it vanished.
“I will help you,” he said. “The woman can live on borrowed time, but I expect something in return for my labor.”
“Surely you are not proposing a deal betweenusover a matter decided by fate?” One laughed, but Nikai saw tension in the angles of their shoulders. Deals with the Kings were not to be taken lightly, especially when they were between each other.
“Not a deal, but if my artifact is to be used, then it is only fair that I be rewarded for my efforts,” Four said in a reasonable tone.
One relaxed. “What would you like?”
“I heard you recently came into possession of another artifact. I am merely curious to have a look at it.”
“Of course.” One ran a hand over their pendant. A thin willow branch with verdant leaves appeared in their other hand. “I am still examining its arcane properties, but it seems there is a vast power in this.”
