“I assume you didn’t just call us all here to regale us with stories of your devout Apprentices, Kronos?!” All 3 Sisters protested at once. ”The Tapestries tell us that there’s more to this story than just repeating the news of your retirement. We already know the fate of one Apprentice. Tell us how the destruction of the Temple of Time came to pass.”

  Kronos opened his mouth to reply, but his response was interrupted by a familiar voice. ”Must you three always spoil the ending?” Soon a devilish grin pierced thick fog. To the surprise of Kronos the figure resembled None other than Death himself. “This is why we never take you three into Mortal Movie Theaters with us.” Luci stepped out from behind the thick curtain of fog. The figure pulled up a seat next to Natura. ”I, personally, have never been fond of the person that spoils the end of the movie.” The devil glanced around as he made himself comfortable.

  “Looking tempting as ever Dark one.” the sisters pointed out in unison. ”Care to explain to the rest of us why you’re so late?”

  “Kronos’s apprentice has been keeping me rather busy.” The devil replied with a warm smile toward the sisters whose cheeks flushed red in admiration. Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos, and Lucifer all seemed to work well together. Just as Natura and Kronos had spent much time together. “Though our visits have gotten fewer and further between.” Luci’s sly expression changed as he shifted his gaze from the Sisters to Kronos.

  “Thank you, oh tempting one.” Chris interrupted with a focused grin. “Nice of you to finally join us. Now that we’ve exchanged pleasantries, can we please allow Kronos to explain why our presence is needed in this realm, hmm?” Chris’s gaze shifted back to the Father of Time. “Please feel free to continue to weave your tale. Maybe you can start with explaining what it was you saw in the mortal's house. Clotho opened her mouth to speak, but her silence demanded by a gesture from the Creator's hand.

  “Thank you divine one,” Kronos said with a gentle nod. “The Tapestries divulged an anomaly that disproved the sisters earlier statement.”

  “I see,” The creator said with a smile. “So what about the mortals now? Do they find comfort in each other as they grieve the death of their loved ones.”

  “Not Yet, I’m afraid.” Kronos replied, steadying himself up on his staff and leaning in a little closer. “Neither one of their hearts are ready to mend with so much damage already done. But they do meet. This is where the two rivers meet and begin a journey together. A long Journey at that.”

  “How do they run together?” Chris asked, his curiosity beginning to peak. ”And what of the last time capsules?”

  Kronos took a deep breath, finding the strength to straighten himself out. “Time is like a vast river. At times, rocks roll off into it. Rocks of all sizes, big or small.” Kronos’s breathing had grown slow and rough. “Sometimes those rocks are big enough to steer the waves in different directions. Sometimes they impact very little on the water’s flow. Sometimes they run into dams in the middle of the river. Dams that act like filters to keep out the stuff that we no longer need. Without the debris, the current learns to grow and adapt. Not all currents grow immediately with each dam. Some take time, but they grow. There’s a friendship that formed that night. A bond that formed from two damaged and lonely hearts. Brent will hear the dismay as Katey finds out about the sudden death of her love. This is where the two rivers connect and flow together. They’re journey carries on for years. Each one’s currents helps to strengthen the other.”

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “Until they become one.” The Creator said, with a warm nod. “Is there any foreseeable break in the waves?” Chris asked as the pieces began to come together in his mind.

  “There is Creator, but it’s not from the currents breaking off. ”That’s where the capsules come into play. If you make yourselves comfortable. . .” He paused and took a deep breath. The brittle bones in his aged body began to shake as Kronos tried to make himself comfortable. ”I would be happy to finish explaining the first part of my story.

  

  The room had gone pitch black. All that could be seen was the shadow of Brent’s lower leg cast by the bright light of the moon that peered in through the window. Brent opened his eyes to the sound of a girl’s voice in the next room. A blanket had been draped over his torso as he sat in the chair cozy. The voice he heard was the familiar sound of the nurse who directed him to the room where his mother sat.

  His gaze shifted in the direction of the bed where his mother’s deceased body once sat. He couldn’t see any physical evidence that she was still there even in the darkened moonlit hospital room, but he didn’t fight the feeling that she was there with him. Memories of his mom began to play through his head like a movie of his life. Just when he thought all his tears were drained from his body, they returned. Trickling down from the corner of his eye and trickling down his cheeks. The tears began to form a stain on his sleeve that sent a shiver down his spine. The blanket slipped off his torso and fell to the floor of the hospital room.

  Brent leaned forward to pick up the blanket, but his attention was pulled by the sound of crying from the next room. He paused as he sat up straight in the chair listening to her. Her cries sound like soft mouse squeaks from his side of the wall. Brent rose to his feet and crept toward the door. The hallways were empty, but the lights shone brightly through the small glass window. Brent’s curiosity grew more and more with each weep. The cry sounded familiar to him. Much like the sound Katie made the night of their fight. Brent pushed open the door as quietly as he could. He’d been into Katie’s work enough times to know what would happen if anyone knew he was still there, they’d demand him leaving. He couldn’t even tell them that he’d known Katie from another life.

  As he peered in through the window of the next room, his eyes immediately fell to the familiar redhead, sitting up in her hospital bed. He opened the door quietly and allowed himself to stand in the doorway. The beeping of the heart monitor filled the silence that fell over the two. Katie peeked between her tear soaked fingers. Her eyes grew wide as if she had just seen a loved one rise from the dead. Neither Brent nor Katie spoke any words. Brent tiptoed quietly toward the hospital bed.

  “How did you . .?” Katie’s expression was dumbfounded. She recognized this younger face of her potential ex fiancé.

  Brent climbed into the hospital bed and whispered to her. “My mom died,” He said quietly as his gaze fell to the hospital bed.

  “Oh,” She tore her gaze from Brent. Her voice grew quiet as a sigh escaped her lips. Tears continued to roll down her cheeks. “My ex died. . on the way over here.”

  A mutual feeling of anger rose between the two of them, but was simmered by the grief of both their broken hearts. Katie opened her mouth to say something, but Brent’s arms wrapped around her before she could speak. Her thoughts began to shift back to her own grief as his memories turned him toward his own loss. Katie leaned her head up against Brent’s shoulder and closed her eyes. The frustration had been replaced by mutual grief. Two broken hearts came together as one.