Chapter 51

Hermione eyed the necklace sitting innocuously on the table. "What is that?"

"That…" Amaya looked up. She sighed. "It's the tether."

Hermione frowned, "…tether?"

Amaya nodded slowly. "Yes. It's what ties Chester and Dìona's cores to the planet. It…stops the planet from…" She faded off.

"Keeps the planet from…?" Hermione prompted.

Amaya winced. "From perishing in fire and brimstone?"

Hermione was shocked into silence. Amaya glanced behind her then shuffled forward insistently. "You have to understand, neither of them wanted this. They don't deserve any of it, and not a day goes by that I don't deplore existence itself for heaping this curse onto them."

"…curse?" Hermione questioned. She was getting more and more confused by the second, and was half convinced that these three were not who they said they were in the slightest. She was of half a mind to believe she had been taken in for a fool. "What curse?"

Amaya winced. "Not so much a true curse – it's more bad luck."

A weak voice spoke up from the doorway. "You know we never blamed you for any of it."

Hermione and Amaya spun around. In the doorway, Chester was being supported by Dìona, who had an arm around his waist and was taking most of his weight. Chester looked pale and drawn, but was valiantly trying to stand upright. He smiled tiredly. "Maya." He reached out an arm for her, Dìona watching him carefully for any sign of strain.

Amaya sniffed discretely before standing and almost throwing herself toward Chester. She stopped an arms-length away from him, obviously holding herself back from grabbing him.

Dìona was watching Chester and Amaya with barely-concealed sadness. It was obvious that something big had happened. Hermione silently sat back against the sofa so as to not disturb the scene.

Chester smiled gently, coaxing, "Maya, my light. It's okay."

That seemed to be the breaking point, as Amaya fell into Chester's arms, scrabbling for a hold on his shoulders. Chester withdrew his arm from around Dìona with a reassuring glance at her when she gave him a questioning look. Dìona stepped back, but remained close by, watching carefully. Once she was sure that Chester wasn't about to keel over, she started over to Hermione.

Amaya and Chester clung to each other, whispered conversation between them, and Hermione tore her eyes away to focus on the being striding over.

Dìona gestured for Hermione to budge over, and collapsed by her side in the opened space. She lounged back, stretching her legs out in front of her. Hermione watched her.

Dìona looked beyond exhausted; her usual pristine exterior torn away to reveal dark bags and bloodshot eyes. Her clothes, however, remained untouched, and were still perfectly in order, though covered by her signature cloak clasped at her throat.

She sighed deeply, her eyes meeting Hermione's. Hermione quickly looked away and Dìona chuckled. She stretched her arms behind her head. "There's no need for that, Herms. We're friends now."

She said it so simply, Hermione blinked. "Friends?"

Dìona laughed quietly. "What did you think we were?"

"Uh…mentor, mentee? Your ward? I don't know." She looked at her hands, twisting them in the light. "I just…you three are…immortal beings. You are literally the incarnation of magic, Chester is Death! Amaya is Life! Where do I figure into all of that?"

Dìona shrugged. "Life and death…it's not really as simple as that," she said, glancing at the couple still embracing in the doorway.

Hermione exhaled roughly. "When are you going to actually tell me things instead of making some cryptic comment?"

To her surprise, Dìona said, "You're right." Hermione blinked and Dìona continued. "We haven't been fair to you. Keeping you in the dark…" she sighed. "Well, I guess it's been such a long time since we've had to explain ourselves to anyone, that we just found it easier not to."

Before Hermione had time to process that, Chester spoke. "Dìona is right. We have been neglectful in our duty to you, and it is time to rectify that."

Hermione looked up. Chester and Amaya had come over from the doorway and were standing in front of the sofa. Amaya's eyes were a little red around the edges, but her cheeks were dry. Chester had his arm around Amaya and seemed much recovered from when he had first stumbled into the room. Still though, he was leaning on Amaya much more than he should be. Hermione wasn't worried for her however, as she had seen how much weight Amaya could shift in training.

Dìona clicked her fingers and a purple loveseat popped into existence. Amaya gently helped Chester onto it then sat down herself. She looked up and met Hermione's eyes, something tumultuous swimming behind them.

This time, Hermione did not look away. Friends, Dìona had said. Well, if that was the case…

"Tell me about the Essence of Time."

A/N: hi

song rec - I Like Me Better by Lauv