Timekeeper

by Tara Sim

  The nurse yelled for help. George was yelling, too, but Danny couldn’t hear the words above the roaring of his blood.

  “Stop lying to me!” Danny screamed. “Just tell me that you did it!”

  “Danny!” Tom shouted over him. “Let it go. The Maldon tower is gone.” His face shuttered with grief, with regret. “I’m sorry.”

  Someone dragged him from the room, hauled him down the stairs, and shoved him into the street. A stocky man with a beard warned him not to come back.

  Danny ran down the street and around the corner. He kept running until he smacked into a brick wall. Danny pressed his forehead to the gritty surface and pushed down a scream. He punched the wall over and over until his knuckles split and bled. Until he could convince himself the tears on his face were from pain.

  AETAS AND THE SEA GODDESS

  The sea churned and frothed the more Oceana paced before her brother. Her hair rose and floated like seaweed, waving slowly through the water and then touching the broad slope of her gray shoulders. Her dress of kelp and cockles rustled when she moved, and occasionally a small cardinal fish swam from one of the many folds.

  “You must consult with Chronos first,” Oceana told her brother. He had just admitted to how poor his grasp on time had become.

  It had begun the day he journeyed to the sky with Caelum. Since then, time kept thinning, unraveling, until Aetas struggled daily to rein the threads in. Mornings flickered and nights wavered. Humans found themselves in the same spots they had inhabited twelve minutes before. Animals went missing. Crops grew too fast and withered prematurely.

  “I have a plan to help control time,” said Aetas. For he was learning more and more that it was a wild thing without cause or patience. Of all the elements he and his brother and sisters maintained, time, it seemed, was the most unruly.

  “But it will anger Chronos. You know this. Speak with him instead. Perhaps he will end his long rest to assist you.”

  “No. I must do this myself.”

  Oceana’s anger battered against the shore, waves rising and crashing above their heads. “Brother—”

  But the shadow of a ship passed over them, and her sea foam gaze lifted. The ship was being knocked between waves like a plaything.

  Oceana rose from the ocean floor and Aetas followed. She spread out her hands, attempting to smooth the waves she had created in her agitation. Aetas broke the surface and watched the men aboard their ship fumble for lines and call out helpless orders. The waves were too strong; Oceana would need time to calm them.

  Aetas drew in the time threads around himself, the ones that dove into the water and wrapped around the ship like golden twine. A sailor fell into the angry waters below. Aetas plucked a thread, and the man shot back onto the ship’s deck as if he had never left it.

  Oceana joined her brother. “Aetas,” she warned, but he ignored her and continued to weave the threads into a new pattern.

  At first, the pattern appeared to work. The ship began to right itself. The waves grew smaller. But then Aetas slipped, just a fraction of a fraction, and time pulsed around him.

  Suddenly, the ship was gone.

  “Brother, what have you done?” Oceana regarded him as if watching the end of the world. “Where have they disappeared to?”

  Aetas did not know. The sailors could be anywhere in time, or perhaps they no longer existed.

  Sick and weak, Aetas dove back into the cool, dark waters. Oceana followed.

  “The power is too strong,” said Aetas. “I must do this.”

  And perhaps his sister knew a fraction of a fraction of Chronos’s wrath, for she dipped her head and spread her hands. “Do what you think is best, Brother. I will assist in what ways I can.”

  A week passed. Danny wanted to see Colton, to warn him about what had happened to the new Maldon tower, but he couldn’t find the strength to leave the house. There were more guards around Big Ben than ever, and the Lead was tearing his hair out.

  Miraculously, neither Tom nor George had made Danny’s episode in their hospital room public, though they’d given his name to the nursing staff and, for whatever reason, asked that they go easy on him. Now Danny had a fine for disturbing the peace on top of everything else.

  When his mother found out about the hospital incident, she didn’t even care. The Maldon news had disturbed her on some deep level. He found her sitting in the dark kitchen one day, her face twisted in confusion, as if she’d forgotten why she was there. He made her breakfast, but she only nibbled at it.

  Nightmares sank their claws into him, and most nights he woke with a scream trapped in his throat. Sometimes he dreamed he was Lucas, watching the tower explode from the inside. Other times he dreamed he was outside, watching some nameless, faceless villain throw explosives at the tower; or a shadowy crowd picking the tower apart piece by piece. His father stood in the distance, a prisoner behind glass. Danny clawed at the barrier, desperate to break through, wondering if he saw his father or only a reflection—wondering if he was the one trapped. Christopher pounded on the glass and yelled for Danny to run, but his voice was muffled, his hands leaving smears of blood that spread and covered all of Maldon with a sinister scarlet shadow.

  He wandered London in a daze, staring at the homeless urchins, grimacing at the helpful automatons. The stench of coal smoke made him think the whole city had caught fire. It ensnared him like a vise. The only relief came when he closed his eyes and thought of Enfield, the chime of clean wind through tree branches and lazy sunshine on thatched roofs.

  It was hard to admit life ended. It was harder still to admit it went on. His melancholy gradually turned into acceptance. The new Maldon tower was gone, and Lucas had died. There was nothing he could do about either. He had to focus on what he could do: protect Colton and keep an eye on his mother. Try to change his fate.

  “Are you sure you’re all right?” Cassie asked one evening in the Harts’ sitting room. She had dropped by for dinner, a regular occurrence due to her parents’ lack of culinary skills. Danny flipped through a book on his lap, though he didn’t bother reading. His mother was already in bed.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Will they try to rebuild the Maldon tower, do you think?”

  “I don’t know.” He stood and shoved the book back onto the shelf. “They’ll do whatever the Lead says.”

  “Danny, I want to help you. What do you need?”

  He needed Colton. He needed these attacks to stop. He needed his father.

  “I don’t know, Cass.”

  She played with the end of her braid. “Will you go to Enfield?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “I was wondering if I could take a look at your auto again.” She held up a hand when he opened his mouth to protest. “I have an idea I’d like to test out.”

  “Oh, Lord.” Images of his auto exploding flashed through his mind.

  “It’s harmless,” she insisted. “I won’t do anything to the internal mechanics. It’s …” Cassie’s eyes clouded over. “A safety device. William’s accident made me think of it.”

  Danny rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn’t deny her that. “All right. But why did you ask about Enfield?”

  “You’re always going there to see your blond bloke. I wondered if visiting him might help.”

  “Maybe. Yes. I mean …” Danny passed a hand over his face. “I don’t know.”

  He felt as if there was too much to do, but when he stopped to think about it, the list vanished from his mind. His days were both endless and fleeting. One week crept into another.

  There comes a moment when time seems to slip faster, running long then short, shadows shrinking as the sun climbs. It’s the moment, he decided, when you’re no longer a child. When the concept of time and the need for more of it come together and make you powerless. Make you yearn for the longer days, the lazy days, before you knew what time passing actually meant.

  Eventually, Danny did go to Enfield. The townspeople
knew what had happened in Maldon, but didn’t know of Danny’s connection. They asked if he’d heard any news. He mumbled no and hurried on.

  Something shimmered on top of the tower. Colton had climbed onto the roof. Danny slowed to a stop, gazing up at the golden figure. Colton stood staring at the sun, as though in competition with it. A silent challenge. The remnant of a god.

  As Danny watched, Colton lifted his arms. He stood that way for some time, arms up, palms out, holding up the world.

  Danny’s father had always told him the most incredible sights were right before his eyes.

  Colton looked down and saw him. His smile was broad and messy with relief. Danny moved toward the door as the spirit climbed back through the window.

  Colton knew something was wrong before Danny even opened his mouth. “I overheard them talking,” he said, nodding toward the window. They sat against the wall opposite the clock face. The light shining through the glass outlined Colton’s face in gold. “They said a tower fell.”

  Danny said nothing.

  Colton moved closer, eyebrows furrowed. “Is it true?”

  When Danny remained silent, Colton wrapped his arms around him. Maybe it was the sight of him, impossibly and unfairly beautiful, or the desire to shed the weight that had been sitting on his chest all week, that allowed Danny to sag in his arms, making a pained noise as if someone had struck him.

  In broken sentences, his head resting on Colton’s chest, he told him about the fall of the new Maldon tower. Colton’s arms tightened around him, and Danny wished he could hear something against his ear—the beat of a heart, the whistle of breath. It would have comforted him more than anything.

  “I don’t know why this is happening,” he said. “The other two towers were small, out of the way. Why target that one?”

  Colton shook his head. The spirit’s fingers wove through Danny’s hair. “I’m sorry. I wish the tower had worked.”

  Danny sat up. “Do you know anything about how the towers were made? How your tower was made?”

  Colton straightened Danny’s collar, his amber eyes downcast. “I don’t.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Danny.” Colton met his gaze, steady but remorseful. “The truth is, I can’t remember that far back. I don’t know how long I’ve been here, or even how old the town is. All I know is that the towers were built when Aetas died. Like you told me.”

  “Right. Sorry.” Suddenly restless, Danny stood and began to pace. Colton leaned against the wall, watching him.

  “I’ve never seen spirits in other towers. I don’t think the new Maldon tower even had a spirit before it fell. Do you think without spirits, the towers can’t function?”

  Colton lifted his shoulders in a slow shrug. “You’re the mechanic. I’m just the clock.”

  A bubble of laughter escaped Danny. It was laced with panic.

  “My tower will be fine,” Colton said. “I’m sure of it.”

  “But you can’t know that. The other towns couldn’t predict that their towers would be attacked.” Danny resumed his pacing, biting a thumbnail. “Damn it. If only I had a hint. Maybe if I find out more about Tom and George, try to blackmail them into telling me—”

  “Danny, please stop.” Colton joined him in the middle of the room and placed his hands on Danny’s shoulders, forcing him to stand still. “I’m sorry,” Colton said again. “I’m sorry I don’t have the answers, and that I’m only making this harder.”

  “You’re not ma—”

  Colton pressed a finger to Danny’s lips. “I am. And I wish I could help in some way, but I’m … well, I’m stuck here.” He dropped his hands to Danny’s chest. “I wish I could do more.”

  Danny’s panic eased away, like water washing over his frantic footsteps. He put his hands on Colton’s waist and pulled him closer. He wanted to tell him everything. Tell him about the burning in his heart, in his stomach. When Colton held him, it was as if the small, dark things that rattled inside him were gathered up and turned to gold. All melted down and forged into something brighter.

  “Colton.” It was all he could say, but it was enough.

  The spirit rewarded him with a faint smile. “Danny.”

  They brushed noses before they kissed. It was slow and hesitant at first, but then it grew deeper, forming a conversation of its own.

  I’m worried about you.

  I’m fine.

  I’m not going anywhere.

  They fell into a rhythm of heat and pressure. When Danny needed air, Colton brushed kisses against his neck. Danny grabbed the back of Colton’s head and crushed their mouths back together, desperate for contact.

  But Colton jerked his head away, toward the stairs. Danny followed his gaze and choked on a gasp.

  Cassie stood there, staring at the two of them with her mouth hanging open. “Da-Danny? What on earth?”

  Colton disappeared in a blink. Danny felt oddly exposed without him.

  “What are you doing here, Cass?” He tried to make the words loud and accusing, but they came out as a ragged whisper.

  Her eyes were fixed on the spot where Colton had been a second earlier. Her voice sounded faraway. “You were acting strange, so I thought I’d …” She gripped the end of her frizzy braid. “I wanted to make sure you were all right. I followed you here. I thought it might be a nice surprise, you know, to see you and …”

  She trailed off, her eyes taking in the clock room. She had seen Colton, Danny was sure of it. Which meant she had also seen him disappear.

  “Where did he go?” She turned in a full circle, the end of her green scarf sweeping behind her.

  “Where did who go?” Oh God, am I really doing this?

  Her cheeks reddened. “Don’t play the idiot with me. I just saw you and another boy kissing like it was the end of the world.” She fought to swallow. “Please tell me what’s going on?”

  She stared at him, silently begging him to explain. He sighed and turned to the clock face.

  “Colton? Please come back.”

  It took a moment for him to notice Colton standing beside him again. The spirit’s expression was cautiously blank.

  “Colton, this is Cassie. I told you about her, remember? My friend?”

  Colton nodded.

  “Cassie, this is Colton. The ‘blond bloke.’ And … a clock spirit.”

  He didn’t think her jaw could drop so low.

  “No,” she said firmly.

  “Yes?”

  “He’s a clock spirit?”

  Danny winced. “Shout it a little louder, I don’t think the people in London heard you.”

  “Danny, this is—”

  “Stupid, I know. I’m an idiot for keeping this from you. But you understand why, don’t you? Do you realize what’ll happen to me if I’m found out?”

  Cassie looked from Danny to Colton. Her shock gradually faded into curiosity. “Your name is Colton. Like the tower. You’re a …” She fumbled over the words. “A clock spirit.”

  Colton glanced at Danny and nodded.

  She studied him a moment, trying not to let her wonder show and failing miserably. “It’s … er … nice to meet you at last. Danny’s told me about you. Just not everything.” She glared at Danny, and he shrank back.

  Colton’s wary expression broke into a tentative smile. “He talks about me?”

  “All the time.”

  “What does he say?”

  “Where do I even begin?”

  Danny watched, struck dumb, as the two suddenly started talking at a fearsome speed. When he tried to get a word in, they barely acknowledged him.

  “He was so flustered when he told me about that first kiss—”

  “Said you live down the street from him—”

  “Have all sorts of embarrassing stories to tell you—”

  Danny sank onto a box and put his head in his hands. He had expected anger, fear, betrayal. This was far, far worse.

  Although Cassie put on a bright face for Colton,
which had done wonders to break the awkwardness between them, she turned stony when she and Danny left the tower later that afternoon.

  He stepped toward his auto. “Guess I’ll just—”

  “Danny, get in my auto.” Cassie was giving him a look, one she’d learned from her mother, that bored straight into him.

  He did as he was told. She started the engine, which ran smoother than his own, and they drove down the narrow streets of Enfield to the outskirts in silence.

  After a while she said, very softly, “Why would you keep this from me?”

  “I already told you why.”

  She took a deep breath through her nose. He couldn’t stand the expression on her face, the hurt he’d caused.

  “I’m sorry,” he said. “I wish I had told you sooner. I trust you, Cassie. I do.”

  “It’s not that.” She tightened her hands on the steering wheel. “You’re behaving exactly like Matthias did.”

  Danny’s heart gave a single painful thud. “You think that hasn’t crossed my mind?”

  “What are you thinking? Whatever Matthias did, if he actually loved a clock spirit like he told everyone, Maldon was Stopped because of it. He was exiled, Danny. You’ve told me over and over again how miserable he is, and how much it hurts you to see him that way.” Her voice thickened with tears. “Didn’t it cross your mind that the same thing could happen to you? That I would have to see you that way?”

  No, it hadn’t. He had been so focused on his fear of losing Colton that he had never considered how he might end up hurting Cassie.

  He looked out the window and frowned. “This isn’t the way to London.”

  “I know. We’re going to Maldon.”

  “What?” His fingers twitched. “No, we can’t. I don’t want to go there.”

  He had only gone once, right after the town had Stopped. All that stood there now was a gray domed barrier, an opaque bubble that enclosed the entirety of Maldon.

  “Not the town,” she clarified. “The tower. The new one.”

  “It’s ruined, Cass. There’s no point.”

  “I know you want to go. So we’re going.”

  He opened his mouth to argue, but she was right. He did want to go, no matter how many ghosts stood in the way.