Page 125 of The Unseen Hour

“You need to use your song and pull the Shades to you. As long as you are holding the baton, they will answer your call from all over Rayus,” Death was telling Orion.

“I’ll do it,” he promised.

“When you first exit the Ether, head straight there. Sing, and do not stop. Conduct them toward you. While you’re doing that, Celia will be at my church destroying the music. Keep singing the Shades to you and don’t stop. Once she succeeds in her part, the Shades will be released, free to go to their real afterlife. Their spirits will be transported to my realm, where they belong. That’s when⁠—”

“And what about us? What will happen to us?” I asked.

Freeing everyone else was something I desired greatly, but I needed to know Orion would be saved as well.

For a split-second, a muscle in Death’s jaw twitched, and I was reminded that I was speaking to a deity and not a friend or even my brothers, where an interruption or informal word could be quickly forgiven.

Death smoothed her expression into a smile.

“You will both be alive. Although”—her smile faded—“Charon will be well aware of what we have done. He will notice when the hour is broken, and I am certain his wrath will be immense. After all, this was to be his grand victory. This was the hour when he intended to use the Shades to overpower all of Rayus.”

Cold swept through me, all the way to my core. If we failed, it would not just mean another year of victims from the hour. It would mean the loss of everything in Emrys and Rayus that we held dear.

Death held a hand out but didn’t actually grab mine.

“I will handle that part. I’ll settle things between us, but you should still be on your guard.”

While I appreciated the warning, I had no idea what good it would do us. What could we do against an angry god? We just had to hope Death could keep him at bay and protect us from his wrath.

“I will see you both after it has been done. Now, then, I have something I need to⁠—”

“How long until the hour?” It was Orion who interrupted this time. “The Shades are more restless than they typically are this time of year.”

“This time of year? What do you mean?” Death frowned.

“I’ve watched them for a hundred years. Normally they wouldn’t grow this restless until a few weeks out from the hour, but it’s only August, isn’t it?”

Death froze, the lightning dying on her skin.

“That wretched fiend! He must be changing the timing of this realm. He can, you know. I’d wager he’s made the days and nights longer with his dancing lights”—she gestured at the sky that was currently filled with dazzling purple and oranges—“to make the days and nights longer than usual. He doesn’t know I’ve involved you, I’m sure of that. If he did, you wouldn’t be standing here. But he must be concerned.”

“So the date?” I asked.

“It’s December. The people in Emrys are preparing to celebrate Wintertide soon. It’s why I came down, so we could have everything prepared in time.”

“December!” Orion shouted.

“December?” My own voice was quieter as I grappled with the reality.

An entire year. We’d been counting based on the system that had worked for Orion for years, but Charon had changed the rules.

We were almost out of time.

“Charon is returning. When you get to Emrys, you know what to do. Take the music to the church once Orion has the Shades. They’ll disappear, and you’ll be truly alive,” Death said.

For a brief moment, I thought I saw Orion frown, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. I reached a hand out and placed it on his arm.

“We’re both anxious, but we’re so close. Mere weeks until the Unseen Hour, and all of this will be behind us. We’ll protect each other.”

Orion held my hand.

“Yes. And I’ll know when the hour is here, no matter what he’s done. He’ll summon me. Then you can go to the church, and Death will help protect you from Charon.”

The deity smirked.