Time Creature: Vetumnus 2 (complete)

My grandmother was never my favorite person in the world. I know there are people who believe their grandmother is their world, the best person to be around; but my grandmother was not the kind of person who wanted to be liked. She was tough as nails and just as unforgiving. Her job was the Archive, and that was to be her life. In between her tasks, she would take care of her daughter, who was mostly raised in boarding schools. It was always a shock to my grandmother I had been raised in the Archive at all. To her, children were meant to be seen, not heard, and most certainly were not supposed to be anything other than future adults.

My mother’s approach to raising me was everything she wanted as a child, a relationship as mother and daughter, rather than matriarch and follower. She explained things to me and why she did them before acting. She taught me about the Archive, showing me how it worked and why it was so important. 

When I was a child, my mother taught me about the Archive.

“Back when I was little,” she said, “I was never even allowed in the Archive. Your grandmother thought it was best that way, and she only allowed me to come inside once I graduated from school. The only thing that taught me was to be afraid of the Archive,” my mother told me one day, on one of our strolls around the checkerboard floor.

“I don’t want you to be afraid the same way I was, Moneta.” She knelt down to my height to tell me this. “I want you to love the Archive, because it is so important to all of us in Miror. To know that we have someone watching over it and protecting it, who cares as much about it as we do, is a massive comfort to all those who come here.” She gave me a smile when she saw how uncertain I looked.  “It is a very heavy responsibility, Moneta. I won’t lie and tell you it isn’t. I still get scared often. But I will tell you the secret of how I make it feel easy.” She grinned at me and pulled me in close. “Memories are forever. Time cannot diminish them. Time can serve to make them better.”

I never understood her words until I was much older, and clinging to my own precious memories. Knowing this, I was able to take over the Archive when my mother retired. She was correct; it was easy to hold the heavy responsibility when I knew that the Archive was forever, even without me.

Now, where my mother intended to raise me up to be bright, happy, and eager to take on the Archive, my grandmother didn’t. To her, it was like joining the military - something hard to do, unlikeable, and the training should put fear into you. I fully believe it was their mixed messages that made me as confident as I am. 

In any case, I am where I am in the Archive, regardless. I rebelled in my youth, as I have mentioned, wanting to escape myself as well as the expectations placed upon me. The only times I never felt afraid or unsure of my future were when I was with Vetumnus. Now, that’s all changed. I feel safe with my future in the Archive, while my future with Vetumnus seems shaky and unknown.

He has come back into my life like a whirlwind of trouble, whipping up a mess that I am still cleaning up even weeks later. I have come to a place where I feel confident I can see the end of the rainbow, but I have been using this work as a way to ignore Vetumnus, as well as his intentions.

“Can we have that talk now?” he asks, blocking my way between the office and the checkerboard tile floor. “I know you’re not that busy anymore. Everything is going well and the white rabbits have it all under control.”

“I still have work to do, even if you don’t see it,” I huff at him. I slip under his arm and stride down the hall. 

“Oh, but I would so love to.” Vetumnus chases me until he catches up. He’s got much longer legs than I do, so he’s always able to outrun me. 

I roll my eyes. “Now is not a good time, Vetumnus.”

“It never is with you,” he grumbles. “All this work is almost done, the Archive is fine. Why won’t you just talk to me? That’s all I came here for,” he huffs. “Please, Moneta, let me bare my heart and then you can ignore me.”

I stop in my tracks at and push my hair from my face. “Not here,” I glance towards my white rabbits, who are working nearby. “Look, after work,” I tell him.

“Over a romantic dinner perhaps?” he asks with a bright grin.

“Romantic?” I grumble. “No! Why?” I huff and shake my head. “I don’t care. Just... after work. If it will get you off my back, then you can have me all you want. Now please, I have to go deal with one of the vaults. You’ve finished all you can here, just go back upstairs.” I turn to leave and I hear him chuckle behind me.

“You can bring your pen too, if that will make you feel more comfortable.”

I snap back around to glare at him while he walks away, cackling. I have been traumatized since that night when he caught me in a rather awkward position. He hasn’t said much about it, but he’s alluded to it often. I knew he was going to use it as bait eventually, I just didn’t know when, so it set me on edge around him. Perhaps tonight I can air it out, explain things to him. I don’t want him to remember it as some kind of victory for him.

When I go home that evening, I am exhausted from all the work. For the most part, repairs and filing are completed, and there are just some things that need tweaking in the vaults. Some places are still clogged with flowers. I am picturing a nice bath, and then a candlelight dinner followed by a lengthy sleep. 

I am greeted by the scent of delicious food as I walk into my house. Going into the kitchen, I see the table is set with lit candles and colored lights float above the table. There is a trail of flower petals that lead from my chair towards the bathroom. As I follow them, I hear the tub running, along with Vetumnus’ voice.

“Is that you?” His voice is coming from inside the bathroom. “Come on in, I have everything ready for you.”

“You’re not going to be naked, are you?” I grumble.

“Only if you want me to be.”

I peek inside the bathroom before I commit to going in. Vetumnus is pouring a glass of wine, which he extends to me. “I know you like to bathe before you have dinner. I thought if you were relaxed, you would be more apt to listen to me.”

I take the wine glass into my hand. “Thank you.” I’m not sure how else to respond. “I appreciate the thought.”

Vetumnus’ skin is a rosy color, slowly shifting into a deep purple. “Dinner is almost ready. But I can come back and scrub your back if you would like me to.”

I frown at him.

“How about I help you undress?” He smirks. “I can keep your tired little arms from stretching.”

“You can close the door on your way out,” I tell him.

He shrugs. “Fair enough. But I am hoping that one day, you will ask for my help with that.” He winks at me as he leaves, shutting the door behind him.

I look to the bath, and see that Vetumnus has put some thought into his preparations; bath salts, oils, little candles, even the wine. I sink down into the bath after undressing, and let out a low moan as the water washes over me. I close my eyes, take a sip of wine, then let myself melt away into the water. 

There is a knock at the door sometime later. “My dear, are you still with us?”

I sigh. “Yes, I am.” I look at my empty wine glass, and decide I should get out. I look around for where I usually hang my towels, but I do not see any. “Where are the towels?”

“Should I bring you one?” 

I glare at the door. “You planned this.”

“Perhaps a little, but I did take the liberty of washing them for you. May I come in?” Vetumnus asks.

I grumble and step back into the bath. “Just bring them in and lay them on the counter.”

Vetumnus opens the door and struts in, laying the towels down as I have asked. He then turns, glancing my way with a smile on his face. “My, my, what a vision you are.”

“Get out!” I huff.

“I can’t stop staring,” he murmurs. “It’s as if I have been trapped. You are no siren, but you have captured me all the same.”

“Stop acting ridiculous!” I growl at him.

Vetumnus’ expression goes soft. “Your soft skin looks so luminous and lovely in the light of the candles. You know, I have always had a fascination with the nape of your neck, and with your hair up now, I can see that feeling remains.”

“You liked to tease me because I’m ticklish there,” I grumble. I keep one arm over my chest while using the other to shoo him away. “Now go on! Shouldn’t you get dinner ready?”

“I can make you the main course in a matter of seconds, if you’d like,” Vetumnus says with a smirk. “I’ll even carry you out to lay you on the table. I promise I’ll even use my best manners, my elbows will never touch the tabletop.”

“You’re not funny, nor are you clever!” I snap at him.

“I’m not being subtle either, my dear,” he smirks. “Just planting a few suggestions that you can use whenever.”

“Just give me a towel!” I snap my hand out.

Vetumnus places one in my hand. “No need to get dressed for dinner, just be comfortable with whatever you want.”

“I’m sure you would enjoy that,” I snarl.

“I would. I want tonight to go well.” Vetumnus comes close to me and trails his fingers down the nape of my exposed neck.

I giggle, then slap his hand away. “Knock it off!”

“I suppose I should,” he sighs. “Just follow the petals back to your seat.” He gives me a wink as he leaves. 

I wear my robe to the table, making sure to belt it extra tight. Vetumnus already has the table set and is pouring me another glass of wine. “Feeling better?”

“I suppose,” I sigh as I sit down at the table. “Better than I was.”

“Good,” he takes his seat beside me. “I’m glad you finally decided to hear me out. We’ve not talked since that night I returned.”

“I’ve been cleaning up the mess you made,” I huff. I lay a napkin in my lap, then reach over to serve myself.

“Yes, well,” Vetumnus clears his throat. “I am still sorry for how I acted. It wasn’t… It shouldn’t have been the way I acted. After all, I’m here to win you back.”

I hesitate for a moment as I remember the crack in his heart that is leaking sand. “You never should have left.”

“I know,” he mutters. “I can’t expect you to ever forgive that, and I am grateful you’re allowing me this chance, but I don’t think I can do it unless you listen to me, Moneta.”

“I’m here,” I nod. “Go ahead.”

Vetumnus takes in a deep breath, lifting his shoulders, then dropping them as he lets the breath out slowly. “Okay,” he whispers. “I still intend to remain your husband until the day I die, Moneta. I never wanted it to end, I never wanted to leave you, but I was a coward and ran away. So there is a part of me that knows to expect nothing from this at all. But the part of me that wants to stay and fight is still strong. I have no claim to you, no reason to be forgiven, but I want to love you and feel that love in return so desperately, I am willing to remain an idiot.”

“Is that what this is?” I ask. “Idiocy?”

Vetumnus smiles gently. “I deserve that.” He then glances back to me. “I want a life with you, a new life. The old one is gone and I know it always will be. I want to let go of the past. It isn’t like me to linger on it. I can’t stop, you know this. I can only go forward.”

“Time makes fools of us all, even you,” I murmur. “But I agree, I would like to let go of the past myself. I don’t want to be angry about it any longer, as much as I want to be. I need to move away from that and try to find some sort of new happiness.”

“Would you try with me then?” Vetumnus whispers. “Is there any way at all you could see me as part of your future?”

“I don’t know,” I murmur. “I haven’t been able to look at the future all my life. I stay in the present, making sure to keep my feet firmly planted. When I try and think about the future, I get so scared.”

Vetumnus reaches out to take hold of my hand. “Ever since I met you, I have always seen you ahead of me and beside me. I see us going through it all together... but of course,” he chuckles, “that is just me being hopeful.”

“I have enjoyed being alone,” I tell him gently, “but even still, I want a family. I want a child who will take over the Archive.” I squeeze his hand. “I have this fear that you will leave again any time I consider asking you to be part of my life.”

“You have to remember, I never wanted to leave in the first place. I left because of your horrible little grandmother and her fucking gun.” He then shakes his head. “If only she had given you that letter like she promised!”

I remember the trunk under my bed. “Can you break a lock?”

He stares at me funny. “What?”

I show him into my bedroom, kneeling to pull the trunk out from under the bed. “This was my grandmother’s. She kept things in it. I’m sure her gun is in here, and maybe she kept the letter so I would never find it.”

“I highly doubt she would keep it,” Vetumnus grumbles. “She probably tossed it into the fire as soon as I was gone.” He kneels down with me, taking the lock in his hand. It rusts over, then turns to dust.

“That’s still so creepy. You were just holding my hand.” I say as I open the trunk.

“I can control it, you know,” he says with a smirk.

There isn’t much inside the trunk. My grandmother’s gun is kept in a small tin case, along with a fair amount of bullets. Her wedding gown is also there, and my mother’s first dress. There are several of her diaries, and some old photo albums, but no letter.

“See, told you,” Vetumnus grouses.

I open up one of grandmother’s journals, reading an entry about how she was dissatisfied with the white rabbits that day. “Do you remember anything it said?”

“It was the crack in my heart,” Vetumnus replies. “Writing it and realizing I would never see you again is what did it to me.” He places his strange hand over his chest while his skin turns blue. “I wanted to see you again so badly. I wanted to kiss you goodbye and make promises in person. But she shot me. I don’t know which one hurt worse.”

“If you could go back and do that night all over again, what is the one thing you would do differently to change everything?” I ask him.

“I don’t like to linger on thoughts like that,” he murmurs. “I have to believe that all those things happened the way they did because I am where I am supposed to be right now. This is how life was meant to turn out, how I was supposed to turn out. If I try to think of it any other way, I would drive myself crazy. What happened and what followed that night were all meant to bring me to this exact moment.”

“You have to move forward,” I whisper.

“And look at that,” he chuckles, “I still wound up here with you.” He squeezes my hand tightly and brings it to his face. He kisses my palm, then holds it against his cheek. “Perhaps we forced something way too soon.”

I press a soft kiss to his forehead. “I need to think,” I tell him. “I need some time to really understand how I feel and what I want. But in any case,” I tell him, “I do forgive you.”

“One kiss,” Vetumnus murmurs. “Just one, and you can have all the time you need to think.”

I press my lips to his, inching towards him slowly. He moans softly, pulling away before the kiss even begins. “I should go clean everything up,” he whispers. “As should you.” He stands from the floor. “Enjoy her awful diaries.” He motions to the small stack, then leaves the room.

As much as I would like to sleep, I cannot. I spend most of the evening tossing and turning in bed before I give up. I take a diary over to the fireplace, wondering if there is anything written on its pages that will shed any light on my grandmother. I go through pages of her complaints; about people, about my mother, about the white rabbits, on and on with it. 

Then I come to a page where her words are different from usual. “I have noticed that boy again. He hangs around the place like some sort of bad omen. He thinks he is being sneaky, but I see him. As long as he does not come too close, he can consider himself safe. I know he watches her, he waits for her. That is why I do not allow her mother to send her outside anymore. Moneta is inside with her studies, as all young women should be. But still, that boy thinks he can wait for her all his life. Being shot once should have been lesson enough for him. Even as it rains now, he cannot hide his tears from me. I know he’s the one leaving the flowers, but I always clean them up before the girl sees them. As long as she thinks he is gone, that’s all I care about. The boy intends to leave traces of himself behind, memories different than the ones in the Archive. I won’t let her remember, but he will remember all his life that our family is not one to plant yourself inside. She will know the only way to happiness is to do the job, then pass it on to someone else. She does not need love in order to do so, merely a man. The sooner she realizes this, the better. The boy would have taken her away from the Archive, and that would have made her worse than her mother. She would lose understanding of what was good. I can still see that boy. I need to load my gun to scare him away.”

The entry ends there. Vetumnus never left, he had tried to return! But my grandmother had done everything in her power to make me as miserable and sad as she was. I leave my room, trying to think of where I could find Vetumnus, but he has not left the dinner table. He is sitting there with a dour look on his face.

“Oh, Moneta, you’re still awake?” he asks.

I thrust the diary at him. “You never left!” I gasp. “You kept trying, but my grandmother-” I take in a deep breath. “You tried!”

“Of course I did, but I still left - even if I lingered for as long as I could.” He looks up at me and smiles. “I never, ever wanted to leave you, Moneta.”

I throw myself into his arms, placing myself in his lap. I kiss him hungrily, all these years of loneliness and missing him just pouring out in that moment. Vetumnus holds me, grabbing onto my waist as I sink into him.

“I wasn’t expecting this sort of treatment for years,” Vetumnus chuckles. 

“I miss you so much,” I kiss him over and over. “You were never far from my mind.”

His hands go up my back as I kiss down his neck. He moans again, tilting his head to the side so more skin is exposed to me. He then taps his fingers on my lips, smiling at me as he gazes at my face.

“Slow down, now,” he whispers. He then stands up, scooping me up in his arms. “If this is to be our reunion, we should do it correctly.” He carries me back to bed, laying me on the cool sheets.

“It’s been a while since that night,” he murmurs. “But I promise, I will try to perform as well as I did then.”

“I’m not worried about that,” I chuckle nervously. “I wasn’t even thinking about it.”

Vetumnus opens up my robe, exposing my small breasts and wide hips. I feel embarrassed, as I have grey streaks in the fluff on my mound. I’m not as young as I was when we were in love, not as delicate, not as beautiful.

“Will your pen be jealous?” Vetumnus smirks.

My jaw drops as I stare up at him.

“Gotcha.” He kisses me, biting my neck with his sharp teeth. I quiver at their touch, my nipples going instantly hard at the sensation. His fingers trail down my body before sinking between my thighs. He rubs me to open me, feeling my wetness start to trickle out. He licks his lips with his two tongues.

“After tonight, you and I will be husband and wife again,” he kisses down my chest to my belly, and then nestles himself between my thighs. “Are you sure you want it?”

I nod as I watch his head sink down. “I do.”

He chuckles. “Good choice of words.”

I close my eyes, letting him drag me under. His tongues are as skilled as ever; one pushes deep inside me while the other laps and teases my clit. The deep squirming sensation has been something that I have long missed, but it is the weight of his body I ache for.

When he pulls back, his lips are drenched and he is breathing heavily. The sand in his hourglass is glowing like moonlight as he moves in to kiss me. I slip my leg around the narrow waist of his hourglass and tug him down towards me. 

“I must admit, I’m nervous,” he chuckles softly.

“Why?” I run my hand down his chest to feel his gears and clockwork shudder. 

Vetumnus smirks. “It’s been a while, and it’s you. I don’t want to mess this up.”

“Just come to me,” I whisper. “That’s all I ask.”

I pull him down on top of me, locking him in my embrace as he enters me. We make love all night, only resting when the morning birds begin to sing outside. We lay together for hours, long beyond when I was supposed to be back down in the Archive. We make love again so I can take every drop of him into me.

We then lounge together in a hot bath, my back against his chest. Once we are settled, I glance back at him in concern.

“Your heart-” I murmur. “Is it okay?”

Vetumnus opens his chest, showing the glass heart inside. The crack is still there, but the sand has stopped seeping out. I lean inside, pressing a kiss to his heart.

“You promise to take care of me?” Vetumnus chuckles.

I lay back down in his lap as he closes up his chest. “As long as you take care of me in return.”

Vetumnus kisses the top of my head. “As well as your child, whoever they may be.” His hand slips over my belly, rubbing it. “They’ll be here soon.”

“You can’t tell that already,” I fuss at him.

“No, I simply mean if we keep at it like we have been, then there will be a baby sooner than later.” He grins at me. “Don’t you think so?”

I bite down on my lip. “Yeah. Of course.”

Vetumnus bites the nape of my neck and I let out a pitiful, happy moan. He growls and wraps his arms around me. “Are you still afraid?”

“No,” I whisper. “Not anymore.”