Ticking Time - Andrei

Settlement

December 2314 BC

“Shit.” I hiss through the kiss, feeling the surge of electrical energy initiate a jump, I can’t control it in time. I can’t believe this is happening. What will Raven think when I disappear like that? No one's watched me disappear before. I imagine it might leave a bad impression on her.

I feel the air shift and suddenly I’m standing in a vast open field staring at the newly constructed Stonehenge blazing brilliant white beneath a morning sun. And I’m not alone.

Raven steps away from me, staring at something. I turn around and see the grand Stonehenge, complete and majestic. The real thing, except less aged.

“Tell me that’s not what I think it is.” she breaths in shock.

I look around but there is no one else in sight. Thank goodness, if anyone had seen us then I’d have been screwed. Explaining a jump isn’t the easiest thing in the world, even when you’ve prepared a backstory.

“Yes, yes it is! It’s Stonehenge! But a much younger version!” I explain excitedly.

She does not look impressed. “How much younger?” She asks through clenched teeth.

“Well, from the look of the stones and the added tops, I’d say it’s about 4000 years younger. Roughly? That really is just an approximation, I mean…” I stammer, sensing her rising anger.

Raven closes her eyes in what seems like an attempt at staying calm, and takes a deep breath, “How long before you can get us back?”

“Well…” I start, “Don’t you want to have a look around first? I mean it’s not every day you get to see a relic of the past! Let alone the past itself right? How did you get here anyway?” I ask, realizing this is the first time I’ve ever jumped with someone. I look at her with scrutiny, wondering if she’s just an illusion.

“How did I-? You kiss me and brought me here!” She rips her arms from my grasp angrily. “I couldn’t care less about these stupid rocks. I didn’t care when they went up and I Don’t care now!” She spits at me.

“Look, I’m sorry!” I apologize, “I may have gotten a little excited and induced a jump. I didn’t plan this! I swear! Heck, I’ve never even jumped this far back before!

Her cheeks flush a little pink and she turns away, crossing her arms. “You wouldn’t like it here,” she whispers. “Most of the world hasn’t even figured out writing yet. It’s boring and… disease ridden, and they hate mages.” She explains.

I’m surprised at her knowledge of the time. I admit, I haven’t been this far back in history before. By my recollection, I think the earliest I’ve managed to jump was 360 AD. Then it dawns on me what she’s saying. “Hold on, How would you know? You’re not a time mage.”

She glances at me from the corner of her eye, and with a reluctant pout, mutters, “I’m a little older than I look.”

I laugh. I break down in hysterics until her glare cuts me short. “Don’t kid with me. You can’t be more than 30. You’re too pretty to kid about your age.” I muse. I don’t mind an older women. Even if she was thirty, I wouldn’t mind. I give her a playful wink, hoping to cheer her up.

Her eyebrow raises in shock, “You can jump through time, but immortality is impossible?” She scoffs. I gawk for a moment, letting the immortal idea sink in. “I know a whole lot more immortals than I do people with your ability.”

“Well, that’s because I am the only time mage, at least according to any historical records and files held by the Order.” I say a little too proudly. It’s a lonely field of work, figuring out the rules by yourself. “Look, it shouldn’t take long. I can save up enough energy to jump in an hour or two.” I reassure her, taking a step closer in hopes to rekindle some of the thing we had going earlier. “Would you mind checking out the Henge with me? For the sake of research?”

She sighs, I can tell she wants to get back. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. Maybe being stuck here wouldn’t be so bad. At least that damn angel hasn’t been born yet…” She says. She seems to perk up a little at that last thought. I wonder what she means but I’m scared to ask. I go for it anyway.

“Angel?” I say, stepping closer, shivering in the frosty air. It’s still winter. No matter when you time jump, the season doesn’t change. It’s like relative time versus space.

“The one that’s probably going to kill me if anything happens to those kids I’m supposed to be looking for.” She shrugs and holds out her hand. She doesn’t shiver. I don’t get it! Why does being immortal mean you don’t need a coat! “Come on.” She says as I take her hand and point us toward the Stones.

“This is a great opportunity to see Stonehenge up close and personal without all the tourists. Not to mention I get to see it in greater detail than any man alive today, or rather, 4 thousand years from now. Records may be good but not as good as the real thing!” I say a little speedy. My excitement cannot be contained.

“So, tell me about these kids you’re looking for? Why did you need me to find them?” I ask, lead her towards the living relic.

“They’re Chosen. They took off from the Toronto branch after some drama. Something about one of them two-timing the girls and getting one knocked up. Two of them apparently returned on their own, but two are still missing. Though, one of them has Death’s Scythe, so I’m not too worried about him.” She explains. My head explodes a little with the overload.

“Sounds rough,” I say, bumping my shoulder into hers for warmth. I really wish Kerry had given me a jacket. “Say, you mentioned, being immortal and being here before. Any idea how people kept warm 4000 years ago?” I asl through chattering teeth.

She laughs, “Furs, I think.” She stops and takes off her leather jacket. It looks small. “Here. I don’t know if it’ll help much. Maybe we should build you a fire or something.” I take it gratefully.

“Thanks, I say, pulling it over my own leather jerkin. It helps cut the windchill. I scan the area for fire building materials. “I think we’ll be hard-pressed for a fire around here. Maybe that forest over there.” I point South West. “I’d like to check out Stonehenge first though. I can’t believe I managed to jump 4000 years!”

I didn’t think it was possible. I try not to reveal the uneasy feeling we might be here a little more than a couple hours. Jumping back 1000 years takes me about an hour and a half to 3 hours - on a good day, but I usually stayed for weeks at a time. I’ve never really been pressed for time before. I chuckle inwardly at my own pun.

My pace quicklens, taking me away from Raven as I approach the henge, gawking at the complete structure as it was meant to be, a fully capped circle surrounding five taller raised doorways. Two outer foot rings circumference the entire henge making it I assume to appear like an eyeball from above.

The grass crunches under my booted feet. I approach from the South, peering through the doorways, the sun on my right the moon to my left. A new moon too, barely a sliver visible in the morning light.

I stop in my tracks as I notice a figure sitting on one of the dolerite stones surrounding the henge. The figure, wearing a robe of dyed red and fastened about his chest with a gold clasp is looking up at the henge. He turns and looks at me.

My mind races a mile a second. Who is this? Why is he here? How in the world will I explain this leather coat!?

I look him in the eye and see he’s not surprised at my approach. He looks worn and aged, tired even. He beckons me to approach.

“You’re not from around here, are you stranger?”

“No, I’m not, and you?”

“I’ve been here long enough to call it home. What brings you here?”

“Curiosity,” I answer. I know it's stupid but I can’t lie.

“Well, a good a reason as any I suppose.”

“It’s early, why are you here alone?”

“I come here to think. It's peaceful and healing. The stones, they gleam in the morning like they’re charged. Perhaps they’ll heal me one day.”

What does he mean by charged? I look the man over; he doesn’t appear to be injured. Then he turns to face me and I see the hole in his cheek. An infection of sorts.

“You’re put off by my appearance. Don’t be. Please, talk with me awhile.”

I sit next to the man, his weathered face full of winkles, his skin tanned by the open elements and the sun. His hands are heavily calloused.

“I was injured in a war a while back. Can’t walk right. My only son died a few years ago. I nurse a broken heart. This world is lonely without someone to share it with. Tell me stranger, What is your tale?”

I turn back to the henge and stare at the smooth white stones. I forget that Raven was with me. My mind is as blank as their surface. What do I say? I can’t disrupt the past, but this man hardly looks like he’ll live much longer to make any sort of difference.

“Don’t be afraid. I won’t share your secret. Indulge an old man.” He looks at me from the corner of his eye, a glint of a smile on his cracked lips.

“You seem to already know things. My name is Andrei.”

“You are young, Andrei. You have a lot of energy yet. Be careful how you spend it.”

This man, he definitely knows things. I grow uncomfortable with the conversation. I can’t time jump yet, but I no longer want to sit here with this strange man. I stand up, digging my hands into my coat pockets.

“It’s been nice. I’ll be going.”

“Please, wait.” He says, struggling to stand and face me. “Take this.”

I look at his hand, shaking in the cold as he holds it out to me, a leather thong tied around a dorelite carved pendant the shape of a teardrop.

“You need this more than me. Perhaps we’ll meet again, someday.”

I hesitate, then take the man's offer and pick up the thing, looking at it in my morning sun. The quartz crystals stars glitter in the light in contrast to the blue stone surrounding them. It's got an energy to it.

“Thanks,” I offer before turning and leaving him to stand alone by the henge. I’ll come back and explore when he’s gone. Something makes my skin crawl about this man. I turn back and spot Raven hanging out behind the outer ring of dorelite stones. Time to build a fire.

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