4

~Rosie 

I’m quite utterly mortified. 

My feet stumble backward, as I look an escape. It becomes apparent quickly, however, that escaping is a foolish endeavor. Maybe it’s magic, or maybe it’s simply his gaze, but when I look into his eyes as Time as he walks in, I’m paralysed from the shoulders down. There is no hiding from him anymore. I should have stayed at the bakery. 

Only when he tears his gaze from me, letting me blink away the shock of golden colour in my vision, does all the feeling return to my body. He eyes a stool, pulling it out so he can sit on it. He motions for me to take the upturned bucket I was previously sitting on. 

“I simply want to talk, darling,” he purrs, noticing my hesitation. That accent, it’s so light, so twisted, like nothing I’ve heard before. 

Quickly, I oblige him, sitting down in front of him. 

I have a feeling Time isn’t just here to talk. And if he is, I can’t imagine what my information is any use to him. Then again, I can barely believe I’m sitting in a room with such a powerful immortal. His power consumes this room, a sharp reminder not to step out of line, otherwise he will find ease in taking me life. 

“Shall I start by saying, I’m not offended you tried to hide from me. I would too,” Time says softly, folding his gloved hands over his lap. I’m quite sure him saying that is not to make me feel better, but to offer an even ground. I somehow feel worse.

I don’t say anything, licking my dry lips. Time watches the movement keenly, letting nothing go past his watchful gaze. 

I shiver, unable to control myself. 

“Apologies about being so abrupt. I’m just curious about the girl who stepped off the train into my territory. No one has done so in many years,” Time informs me. It’s something I’ve heard multiple times, and I know about as much as any of them. I simple sat upon the train and let it deliver me wherever it pleased. 

Time waits a few moments, expecting me to speak, however, I remain dead silent. He sighs. “Think of me like one of those Hunters. Imagine me on their level. Speak to me, as such. I’m not here to hurt you.”

It’s hard to consider an Immortal as earnest. I look at him, his handsome perfection immeasurable, like nothing I’ve never seen, but it doesn’t mask the danger attached to him. 

“What are you here for, then?” I question.

I can see Time chewing the inside of his cheek, considering how best to answer this. “Call it impulsive of me, but when I hear commotion in my only village, I find it best to investigate right away. And when I heard rumours of a beautiful girl with green eyes wander in, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. And might I say, the rumours are true.”

My cheeks flush. Did an Immortal just call me beautiful? I hate how it makes me react, but I can’t help the warmth that flushes through me, the shivering in my fingers that won’t stop. I pray he doesn’t notice these small weaknesses. 

“Is that all, sir?” I ask, lowering my gaze. I heard others outside refer to him by that, so I assume is is expected of me also. 

He suddenly pulls the chair forward, grabbing my chin.

I gasp, as he pulls me so close to him, I’m almost completely encompassed into the depths of his eyes, feeling the warmth of his breath on my mouth. “You are no submissive, my girl. I can see in your eyes there is something else in your head, so don’t call me sir again, and speak louder next time.”

He lets me go, and I relax my jaw. For a moment, I can barely breathe, unsure of where he got that from. Maybe he can see into my head, just like I heard his twin brother can. I hope not, otherwise he would know how all the warmth in my body he’s caused me is centralised down below. 

“Now, I’m here to offer you a job. At my estate. I’m not there often, and I want someone to manage it,” he offers, smiling tightly. 

I blink a few times, taking it in. 

A job? Immediately I conclude without thought that I cannot take that offer. To live - even if it’s for small amounts of time - with an Immortal displays immediate red flags. As much as this might be true, I know not to trust Immortals, as much as I might not know anything about this one. I’m sure he is just like the rest of them.

“I have a job here, but thank you,” I say quickly. Time flinches, as if he couldn’t possibly understand why I was rejecting his offer. “Why do you want to hire me anyway? You don’t know me. I’m not special.”

“Trust me, Rosie, you are special,” he murmurs. He might just be a great charmer, because it’s making me feel some kind of way. However, I know I can’t. 

“I’m sorry, I can’t go.”

As I stand, Time grabs at my arm, pulling me to a stop for a moment. “I’ll be honest. I’m not a very patient man. I know what I want, and that is for you to come back to my estate with me. I’m asking nicely, because I thought you would say yes. I don’t want to have to take you by force, my dear.”

Sucking in a breath, I try not to panic. Time looms over me, blocking the exit - not as if running would do me any good. He’s not going to leave unless I’m with him, so my mind scrambles for an excuse to stay. 

“Like I said, I have a job. Could you at least give me a few days to...I don’t know, get ready?’ I ask, hoping my request is reasonable. 

Time narrows his eyes slightly. 

“I’m a reasonable man. I’ll give you two days, before I will be back for you,” he says brushing a piece of hair back behind my ear. It makes me shiver. I want to protest, however, I know it’s no use. Why argue against an Immortal, knowing he will win. He is giving me this chance, and I’m going to take it. 

“Thank you,” I mutter under my breath. He nods, a smile on his face I can only describe as sly. Whatever he is hiding within his mind, I try not to contemplate. It will only scare me, and knowing I’ll be living with him is daunting enough. 

Time brushes past me walking toward the exit. “See you soon, my girl. And I promise you, I can’t wait.”

And then, he vanishes. 

For a moment, I simply stand there, unsure of how to react to what happened. I’m not panicking, because I have an idea. I have time to find out more about him, before I start worrying. For now, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt, hoping he isn’t like what all other Immortals I’ve heard about. Maybe this will be like any other job. 

Aside from the minor red flag. I know what I want, and that is for you to come back to my estate with me. I’m asking nicely, because I thought you would say yes. I don’t want to have to take you by force, my dear.

I shiver at that thought. Stepping outside the tent, I see Skylar standing there, chewing her fingernails. She looks up at me. 

“We overheard everything.”

“Please, tell me everything you know about him,” I exasperate. Skylar nods, pulling me down to sit next to her on a bench. The market is closing, the music having died down, people pulling their stalls down around us. Many probably left because they heard Time was here. 

Skylar taps her fingers on the wood of the bench. “No one really knows much about Time aside from his brother. Time went missing for years, leaving this place for no one to rule. He’s always been harsh, but this time, he came back and he was different. More elusive and...amused, if that makes sense.”

“I’m learning nothing from this, I tell her honestly. An Immortal being elusive isn’t uncommon. 

“Look, all I’m saying is we know as much as you do, and we work for him. I’m just saying, don’t trust him. He’s dangerous, and he’s killed people. He’s hurt people. He’s not a good guy, but what Immortal is truly good?” Skylar asks. 

I sit on that for a moment. 

Skylar stands. “I’m assuming you need to get home, and, well, prepare for after the next two days. I can’t imagine being in your position.”

Sighing deeply, I watch as she waves goodbye and follows her brother and the rest of the hunters out the market. Just as she was about to disappear, she turns, and shouts something back at me. 

“Remember, no matter what, don’t trust him!”Yup