Chapter 14: That Thing That Answered Back
Kairo still having the watch. Both his hands were wrapped around it, palms sweaty, the way a kid might clutch a flashlight in the dark, half-expecting it to blink out if he loosened his grip. It was heavy, or at least heavier than it had any right to be for something so small, and not just because of whatever cogs and gears were ticking away inside, His ears somehow picking them up, and even though he knew almost nothing about watches or clocks, he knew that the insides of the gold watch sounded weird and wrong. Another thing he could strangely pick up with his ears was that This thing felt like it somehow had opinions. or maybe, Like it had been waiting for someone to pick it up and finally decided he was the unlucky lottery winner.
The grown-ups were still talking somewhere nearby, while they all sat around the table he was on, their voices lapping around him in slow, distorted waves. He could hear his name, the word "time," a string of careful tones people only used when they were trying to act like everything was normal and nobody's about to panic. He caught "careful," "potential," and someone's attempt at a joke that didn't quite land, but it all sounded far away, more like background noise in a room where something much weirder was taking center stage.
Again and Again, Their voices drifted around him like they were underwater, stretched and softened, words bending at the edges before they reached him, and over time he would focus less and less on their words. Because right now, Kairo could feel something watching him. Not just the usual grown-up kind of watching, but a prickling, old, almost mischievous awareness that felt more like a dare than a threat. He lifted his head, eyes drifting upward, and found her.
Madame Xanadu.
He didn't just look at her like babies look at faces, not waiting for a smile or a silly noise. He saw her. Really saw her. Hair so black that it must have made the shadows jealous, green eyes so green and deep, eyes that didn't just look, they measured, like they were sizing up his soul for something he couldn't understand. There was also a strong confidence in the set of her shoulders and the way she held her cup, as if she'd been doing this longer than the word "long" had existed in most languages. Magic clung to her, thick and unapologetic, Even he could tell that much.
He stared, maybe for a little long, and she noticed. Of course she did. Her gaze flicked down, meeting his, and she offered a small, knowing smile. The kind that said, "I see you. And yes, I'm waiting."
So Easy in fact that it was Like she'd been expecting this exact moment and was pleased it hadn't taken longer.
Kairo narrowed his eyes a little.
Okay.
That was suspicious.
He held her gaze, testing, then very carefully, very deliberately, he tried something.
Can you hear me?
Nothing.
No flicker. No reaction. No subtle shift in her expression.
She kept talking like nothing had happened.
Kairo blinked once.
Then again.
Okay… good.
Either she wasn't a mind reader, or she had the best poker face he had ever seen, and honestly, he was choosing optimism here. He did not need someone in this house casually listening to his thoughts. Life was already weird enough.
He let his focus drop to the room. It was ridiculous, in the best possible way. The air was thick with the smell of old stuff like old books, old clothes, and old metal and wood, and maybe something sweet he couldn't name. Light drifted lazily, like it wasn't in any hurry and resented being told where to go. Every object seemed to have a story, and that story could honestly be very sad, fantastical, happy, or crazy.
Magic. Clear, obvious, and not pretending to be anything else was everywhere in her and as a man first born into a world without magic as far as he could tell, He liked that, even if it made the hair on his arms stand up.
But the watch… The watch was the real show tonight.
He glanced down. There was drool on it. A good bit, actually. He frowned, tried to wipe it off with his sleeve, only to succeed in moving it around until the shine was uniform. He nodded, satisfied. Good enough. He squeezed the watch, curiosity bubbling up.
So… what are you?
The watch hummed.
He froze. Very slowly, he looked closer. Oh. That was new.
Wait… can you hear me, Mr. Watch?
The watch hummed again. This time, it felt like a correction, like it was saying, Of course I can, you nasty little disaster.
He blinked. "Oh. Sorry." He shifted his grip, suddenly feeling like he should be using both hands and maybe a bit more respect.
Ms. Watch?
A softer hum, almost approving. He grinned, "Okay. Respect." He leaned in, conspiratorial. "Do you have a real name? Or is Ms. Watch what I should call you?"
The response was a pause, not the empty kind, but the kind where someone's thinking about how best to answer. Then, as if it had always been there, the name arrived: Aurielis.
He felt his mouth curl into a little baby smile. "That's way better."
The watch seemed to approve, warmth blooming against his palm. Use it, don't use it, I ain't picky. Just don't call me 'thing.' I got standards.
The voice in his head sharpened, forming into something he could better understand, gaining a rhythm, a personality. He blinked, He tilted his head slightly, listening closer now that the voice was clearer, more shaped. "…Why do you sound like that?"
There was a beat. . . .Then —
What, this?
The voice shifted, leaned into itself.
You don't like it? I can change it. I got range, kid. I can go classy, I can go ancient, I can go real cryptic if you want. The accent was thick, New Yorker-ish, the kind of voice that sounded like it should be arguing with a cab driver about the price of a ride somewhere.
Kairo snorted. "Didn't say I didn't like it. Just surprised." Then Kairo shook his head quickly as if she could see the action. "No, no, don't change it. Really I like it. I'm just—caught off guard is all."
Yeah?
There was a grin in her tone now. He could hear it, if something like that was possible.
The watch—Aurielis—shrugged in his mind. Not my fault, kid. You woke me up outta a long nap, I had to grab somethin' from your head to talk back. This one? Had flavor. Personality. I respect that.
Kairo squinted and He felt his cheeks get warm. "…You went through my brain."
Relax. I skimmed. I didn't redecorate. You still got all your stuff.
He made a face.
"Still weird."
Welcome to magic, sweetheart. You're gonna hate it and love it at the same time.
He processed that, then frowned. He paused one more time for good measure then thought.
"…Okay, but hold on. Back up. You said I woke you up."
He glanced toward Madame Xanadu, the very pretty magic lady with the eyes, for half a second, then back down.
"That doesn't make sense. Wasn't it her? The magic lady? She's clearly doing something."
Aurielis didn't even hesitate. She laughed. And wow, yeah, that laugh had volume.
Aurielis's laugh was bright, warm, and maybe a little too amused.
Her? Please. Don't get me wrong, she's got her thing going on, she's sharp, she's got style, I like her whole vibe. But wake me up? Nah. Not even close. Again, No offense, but she couldn't wake me if she tried for a hundred years. I gave her the vessel for safekeeping. You're the one who turned the lights back on.
Kairo blinked.
"…Seriously?"
Kid, I gave her the watch for safekeeping. That's it. Storage. Like a really fancy drawer. You? You flipped the switch. Whole system came online.
He frowned, harder now.
"I didn't do anything."
There was a pause. Longer this time. Then…Wait.
The tone shifted. Not playful now.
Focused. . .You don't feel it?
Kairo hesitated. "…Feel what?"
The power.
That word sat weird in his chest.
He swallowed. "Power? what…Like magic?"
Aurielis inhaled slowly, like she was deciding how to explain something to someone who had no frame of reference.
Yeah. But also… no. Bigger than that. Don't box it in yet.
Kairo's grip tightened around her.
"…Okay, you're starting to worry me."
Good. That means you're paying attention.
A beat.
Then her voice lowered, softened just a little.
Kid… I've been around longer than this planet's been doing laps around the sun. I've seen a lot of weird. A lot of powerful. A lot of things that thought they were important and weren't.
Kairo swallowed. "…And?"
And you?
Another pause more for his sake.
You feel like something I shouldn't be talking to this casually.
That might have landed a little harder than he could handle as he said back, "…That's not comforting."
It ain't supposed to be. It's honest.
She let that sit for a second, then continued, a little quieter now.
There's only one presence I've felt that even comes close to what you're putting out right now.
Kairo already didn't like this.
"…Who?"
Father Time.
Silence.
Kairo blinked. "…I'm sorry, what? Wait… that Father Time? The one tied to… her? the dad of the sexy goth girl?"
A pause for her to roll her eyes: Yeah. That guy. Big deal. Real lazy. Real powerful. Whole 'made the rules and then clocked out early' type.
Kairo stared at the watch. "…Okay, hold on. New question. Who are you?"
There was a shift. Subtle, but proud.
Name's Aurielis. One of the first angels of time. Not the little ones. Not the late arrivals. First wave. Me and my sisters? We handled the flow. Watched the edges. Made sure things didn't snap when they stretched too far, or at least we did, but that is a long story.
He shook his head. "Girl. Are you telling me I have superpowers?"
Aurielis didn't even let him finish the thought.
No.
Aurielis didn't miss a beat. Calling what you have 'superpowers' is extremely limiting and disgustingly disrespectful.
I'm telling you 'superpowers' is a baby word for what you got.
Kairo frowned. "That feels rude."
It's accurate.
Kairo's mind spun. "If your sisters were here?"
She leaned into it now, tone sharpening just a little.
If my sisters were here right now, full strength, no restrictions? We'd look at you and make a choice real fast.
Kairo didn't like the sound of that.
"…What kind of choice?"
Serve you…
"ok not so bad . . . ," he started.
…or end you. Nicest way I can put it.
Kairo went very still, "that option is much worse, but i have to ask,…End me how?"
The permanent way, kid. No reruns.
He sat with that. "…Oh."
Aurielis softened just a fraction.
Hey. Don't spiral. I checked you out already. You're a good kid. Weird, confused, kinda nosy, but good. That matters.
Kairo let out a slow breath.
"…That's comforting. In a deeply concerning way. Also, I thought you said you didn't go through my mind like that . . ."
You'll adjust. Everybody does. Or they don't, and then it's not their problem anymore.
"…That's dark and also not helping." he said more for himself.
I'm not here to baby you, I'm here to tell you the truth. Big difference.
Kairo shook his head slightly, "Okay, then answer this. If I'm all that… why is nobody helping me? Where's this Father Time guy?"
Aurielis went quiet again.
He knows you exist.
"…And?"
He doesn't care.
Kairo blinked. "…That's rude."
That's him. He did his job a long time ago. Made the system. Made us. Then decided he was done participating. Honestly, Best case, he ignores you. Worst case… you get interesting enough that he notices.
Kairo frowned. "…And that's bad?"
Kid. He'd erase you before he explained anything to you.
"…Wow."
Yeah. 'Wow' is right.
"That's crazy."
Yeah, crazy, fits for everything to do with The Endless.
Kairo tightened his grip on the watch. "…So you're all I got, huh?"
There was a small pause.
For now? Yeah.
He exhaled. "…Then please help me."
Aurielis didn't hesitate.
I will.…Just not right this second.
Kairo groaned, "Why not?"
Because I'm about to pass out again.
Kairo made a confused face, which was easy to do as a baby, "…You said I was giving you power."
You are. You're dumping power into me like I've been starvin' for centuries. Which, for the record, I have. But waking up? That's step one. Rebuilding? That takes time.
Then, with a dry tone, Also, you put me in your mouth. That was… a lot.
Kairo winced. "…That's fair. sorry . ."
Yeah, let's not do that again. We're past that stage in our relationship.
"…Agreed."
Her voice started to thin, like it was pulling away.
Learn from the magic lady. She's solid. Not perfect, but solid. She won't mess you up.
"cool, ok but like…What about your sisters?"
A pause. A heavier one.
…Later.
"…Okay."
I'll be back.
"…Okay."
And then, Nothing.
And then just like that, she was gone. Kairo held the watch to his chest, face serious, then whispered to himself in baby language, "I have superpowers." He let that hang. "…That's crazy."
Across the table, the adults had caught on. Madame Xanadu's eyes had narrowed, sharp and bright, and Dr. Wakati was leaning in, his whole posture intent.
"He's not just reacting," Xanadu said, her voice low but clear. "He's engaging."
"With the object?" Dr. Wakati asked.
"With something within it," she replied, a ghost of satisfaction in her tone.
Beryl rocked back in her chair, eyebrows up. "So we're just skipping past 'unusual baby' and straight to 'possibly talking to ancient time artifacts.' Marvelous. Just marvelous."
Anika, for once, said nothing. She watched Kairo, really watched him, as if she could see the gears turning behind his eyes.
Madame Xanadu stepped closer, thoughtful, and reached out to tap Kairo's nose. "Hello again," she said, her voice gentle but full of promise.
Kairo blinked at her, present and aware in a way that felt new.
She picked him up, weighing him with a smile. "Mm. A little heavy."
Beryl grinned. "Chubby baby. Means he's happy, right?"
Xanadu's eyes crinkled at the corners. "He must be very happy."
Kairo squinted at them both. I am being judged, he thought, with all the gravity his little body could muster.
Xanadu turned, already moving toward the heart of the house. "Come," she called back. "This is where we begin properly."
The others fell in behind her, Kairo still clutching the watch, heart pounding with new questions, new possibilities, and a sense that for the first time, he wasn't just floating along. He was moving forward: maybe not on purpose, but definitely toward something.
And as they left the room, Kairo let himself wonder: if this was what the beginning felt like, what on earth would the rest of it be?