The Timer (Patreon)

“P-please. I've made a deal. People will die.""What deal? Who will die?"L twitches her head away, the ghostly after-images of his eyes dancing in her peripheral vision. If she gives him everything, she loses her leverage.  "Someone I care for.  And I’ll tell you everything if you let me save him -  "“One moment.” Helios settles the reliquary on her head, balancing it carefully. A glassy smile dances across his face. “You have as long as you can keep this balanced to convince me, false Lyra.”"W-what?" L stammers. Helios wags a finger."Careful, it's already slipping."She shifts, breaking out in a cold sweat. The weight of the book is already crushing her antennae. "Helios, I know you're not stupid, i-if you keep me f-from doing this you'll never KNOW - "“You truly don’t know how to play, do you?” Helios shakes his head.  "Let me help. What's your real name?""...L." She rasps. "I...sold the r-rest."His smile sharpens. "Now that does sound like an interesting story…"+++Excerpt from Imago Ch24: The Obsidian DoorBack straight, head up!