It took them a few weeks and a fertile imagination, but the two couples figured it would be easier to arrange double dates. Smaller events would raise suspicions, as two men with a single woman would do. But they did well mingling with large crowds.
After a few months, they decided to travel a bit with Chronos' hourglass. So, they went to a ball offered by Italian nobility in the 17th century. The event was a masquerade ball, and Hermione/Lachesis went as a Greek goddess. Chronos opted for a classical Venetian mask, and Severus was dressed as a Pest Doctor. Mort went as a pale, moody horse kept near the carriages. In the crowd, it was easy for the women to exchange the body to attend their correct partner. That night, Lachesis was the lucky girl, since Severus was called on duty. Hermione eventually danced with Chronos, who gentlemanly asked her to compensate Severus's absence. Lachesis had no objections, and they danced for quite some time.
A few days later, there came a visit to the Abode. Lachesis opened the door and received a very insincere smile from a familiar gentleman in a red suit. 'Hello, old gal.'
'Satan,' she greeted in surprise. 'To what do I owe the pleasure?'
'There has been quite a buzz in the rumour mill. May I come in?'
She granted him passage, sensing suspicions from the other two aspects. 'Would you like some tea?'
'No need. I just wanted to make a few things clear.'
'Such as?'
Satan wasted no time. 'Are you cheating on your boyfriend behind his back?'
'What?!'
'Don't bother denying it. One of my minions saw you in a very cozy little dance with Chronos at a masquerade ball. And you tried to hide the affair in the 17th century! Are you going to deny it?'
'Of course I deny your accusations. I was dancing with Chronos, yes. But we were not hiding-'
He interrupted Fate, 'You slut! Dancing with another woman's man meanwhile your own lover tended to his duties! Shame on you!'
'It was just a dance. Chronos invited me to because he is a gentleman, and, besides, Clotho was right there. We were on a double date. He saw Severus leave, they are good friends, and he offered me a dance. Why should I have said no?'
'Have you no sense of decency? You are an adulteress!'
'That is not true. But even if it were, why are you making such a big deal? We are adults, and if there was consent, it was our own free will. I thought you would be the first one to condone such behavior.'
'It is going to make Clotho sad. Why would you want to hurt her feelings?'
'I am going to tell you one more time: she was there. And it was just a dance. Anyway, it is none of your business.'
'Yes, it is my business. Chronos has proven himself unworthy of the Scrumptious One! I believe it is time we rescue her from his cheating and his lies!'
'Believe me: I am not cheating anyone and neither is Chronos. Go talk to him. I think Chronos is very happy with his lover. Clotho is very pleased with her lover, I believe Severus is very pleased with his lover and so am I. So don't you meddle in our affairs.'
Satan frowned and said, threatingly, 'Now you listen to me, you old prune. I am the Father of Lies, so I smell deceit millions of miles away. There is something fishy going on here, and I am going to find out what it is!'
Without waiting for an answer, the Incarnation of Evil left, leaving a foul cloud of sulfur on his wake. Lachesis tried to play it cool even though she was alarmed by Satan's visit. Hermione, however, was very close to panicking. So they called for a meeting at Time's home.
Lachesis cooked.
'But do you believe he knows?' asked Chronos.
'I don't think so,' said Lachesis reassuringly. 'He certainly suspects something, but he is not sure. So he threw some bait in the water to see if I would bite it.'
Severus frowned. 'Satan is not stupid. He knows Fate has three aspects and they share one body. How can you commit adultery in such circumstances?'
Lachesis held Chronos's hand and asked, 'Beloved, Hermione is quite upset, so I will step down for a while, all right?'
The Incarnation of Time smiled and kissed her hand, 'Of course, my sunshine.'
Lachesis smiled at him and withdrew her hand before allowing the younger aspect to take over the body. Hermione seemed pretty shaken as she looked at Severus. He sensed her distress and came closer. 'Are you all right, Hermione?'
She answered shakily, 'I am not sure. You should have seen him. He was so aggressive.'
Chronos reassured, 'We are right here, dear. We will protect you.'
'But he is right in one thing,' Hermione recalled. 'He is the Father of Lies. How can we expect to fool him?'
Chronos shrugged. 'So far, we have. Fooled him, I mean. If he has done nothing other than threats, it's because he doesn't know what's going on or he knows what is going on but hasn't found a way to do anything about it.'
Severus said, 'Perhaps we should do something, instead of waiting for him to act.'
'What are you suggesting?'
'That we come clean. And deal with the situation.'
'Do you think it would be wise?' asked Chronos.
The Incarnation of Death explained, 'The alternative is panicking every time Satan hints on interfering. I say, we get the secret out and protect Hermione from his advances. Of course, I surrender to her decision. She is the target, after all.'
Hermione confessed, 'I am quite scared, that's a fact. But I would also love to stop being so scared.'
Chronos shook his head in disbelief, 'I think this is extremely dangerous. I am sympathetic to your fears, Clotho, but this is quite risky.'
As Hermione was about to answer, she felt another aspect reaching for the body, so she warned, 'Someone is anxious to join in the conversation...'
She had barely finished saying so, when her body shimmered and old Atropos appeared. It was most unusual, since the aspect of Fate who cut the Thread of Life preferred to keep a low profile. Severus was as surprised as Chronos by the unexpected appearance.
'I am sorry to barge in like this,' she said, 'but I must speak up about this. I cannot hold my tongue. I know that you all mean well, but I think you underestimate the enemy.'
'Underestimate?' repeated Severus.
'Yes', she maintained vehemently. 'That creature is the Prince of Darkness, Father of All Lies, the Archfiend, the Adversary, the Most Foul, the Unholy One! Do you think such a collection of epithets is unmerited? That thing is evil, and he is as evil as evil can be! Clotho is terrified of him, and with plenty of reason.'
'You suggest we keep up the farce? Even though he is already suspicious of something?' Severus was clearly vexed. 'I don't want Hermione at risk.'
Atropos reminded, 'It is no secret that Satan has his eyes on her, and he has been even before she became an incarnation. It seems he has something in mind for her and he has not given up. We still don't know what it is. Not knowing is our disadvantage.'
'Atropos has a point,' nodded Chronos. 'We don't know what he wants with Clotho.'
'Exactly!' she exclaimed. 'So telling him this secret is giving him the only advantage we have. Right now, we can catch him off guard.'
Severus was unconvinced. 'I still don't see how lying is to our advantage.'
'Sometimes the only advantage we have is not helping the enemy,' Atropos insisted. 'Do not underestimate the creature. He once was God's favorite, remember? He was a commander of angels, who has strategic thinking and planning.'
Chronos piped up, 'I totally agree with her. This is way too risky.'
Severus was not happy. 'I still don't see what he can do if he knows what we are doing behind his back.'
'He is still harassing her!' reminded the elder aspect of Fate. 'He has been told to keep his distance, yet he harasses her!'
Chronos said, 'Besides, just because we can't see his options, does not mean he doesn't have any.'
Severus sulked, seeing their reasoning, but still reluctant to agree. Atropos told him, 'I understanding your frustration, and I also share your desire to see dear Clotho free from this menace. She is putting up a brave front, but the truth is that she is scared to the bones. Consider it all. He is after her, she is the target. We still don't know why. There is also the death of her husband, still unexplained. It should be a measure of how much a danger that creature is. I say that giving that creature any leeway is dicey, to say the least.'
Atropos had no idea how wise her words were.
o0o 0o0 o0o 0o0 o0o
After the meeting of what was later called The Situation Committee, the four lovers exercised higher levels of caution. They left nothing to chance and became even more discreet in their outings. Hermione felt her anxiety levels reducing and relaxed a bit, enjoying sex in ways Severus seemed to enjoy. He was exceedingly talented, but not experienced. Their moments together were quite cherished.
Other than that, life went on as usual to the Incarnations of Immortality. Hermione and the other aspects of Fate went about their business, taking care of the lives of mortals as were their duties.
So, Hermione was at the Void, gathering the beautiful material used to make the threads of mortal life, as she did every now and then. That was her duty as and Aspect of Fate: to gather the raw materials in the Void, near the Source of Life, and then spin them. She gathered her staff and was about to return to the abode when she saw a familiar figure coming.
Hermione was very surprised. 'What are you doing here?'
Death shrugged. 'I figured we could use some privacy.'
'This is such a surprise,' she said. 'I didn't even know you could come in this place. Not every incarnation can.'
Severus seemed a bit playful, instead of his usual sober demeanor. 'Today I decided to set myself to try new things and surprise my beautiful, young lover. So I won't be my usual self.'
'I can see that.'
He sported a definitely naughty smirk. 'How about we do something we have never done here?'
'Like what?'
'Like make outrageous sex here and now.'
Hermione's eyes went wide. 'It is so scandalous, so clandestine! So unlike you,' she observed, surprised.
'If we are having a torrid, secret love affair, isn't this the best place for a romantic tryst? It's secluded, quiet, discreet...'
She frowned. 'This is the sacred fountain of life. Are you sure this is the best place for that? Are there any rules against doing this here?'
He shrugged once more. 'The Incarnation of Death wouldn't know about. But if my grand romantic gesture offends you, we can forget about it. I don't want to upset you, dear...'
Hermione smiled. 'Of course not, my love. Come, let's find an even more secluded place.'
She put the skein safely on the ground and led him to a margin of the River of Life, where they had vigorous sex. Hermione felt Severus was indeed trying different things, for sex with him had never been like that before.
In previous encounters, he had always been tender and quite attentive to her needs. Now, however, he was rough and assertive. Not exactly violent, but more physical than usual. He was clearly self-involved.
That was new. When they finished, Hermione said so.
His reaction was to raise an eyebrow. 'Am I to infer you found our lovemaking is unsatisfactory?'
'That is not what I said,' she reassured him, as they redressed.
He then smirked in the most obnoxious manner, 'If you are to betray a fellow incarnation, you at least should get some satisfaction out of it. Risking the friendship like that...'
She frowned. 'What are you talking about?'
'Chronos, of course. He is not a bad guy, after all. Betrayal will hit hard on him, but he should expect it somehow, right? I mean, come on: an old geezer ought to know a scrumptious little kitten like you needs to be satisfied. And I certainly could do with some fresh meat instead the old lady I am currently dating.'
Something inside Hermione froze as alarm bells rang interiorly. She sensed something very, very wrong. Or maybe everything was wrong.
But before she could say anything, Death went on, 'Anyway, the deed is done. We will have to face the consequences of our deceit. And there is also Satan to consider. He is a smart guy. He will figure it out eventually.'
Hermione practically snarled, 'Perhaps. But he will never be victorious.'
'That, my dear, remains to be seen.' He got up and exclaimed, 'Oh, fuck. I got a stiff coming.'
'A what?'
'A stiff,' he repeated. 'You know, a corpse, a dead, a deceased, a demised. This is what I do.'
Hermione was in the verge of panic, as he just waved. 'So, my dear. I am sure you and I will be engaging in more interesting activities soon enough. Bye-bye!'
He left without waiting for an answer, and Hermione began to shake all over, a sense of deep dread threatening to overcome her whole being. Tears of sheer horror began to fall down her cheeks. Her sisters aspects were still asleep, for Lachesis and Atropos were unable to manifest themselves in the Void. Hermione felt utterly alone and vulnerable.
One of the things that were most attractive about Severus was the way he was utterly respectful with everything and everyone. He certainly never used foul language – not even when terribly upset. He respected Hermione in every way, from her body to her feelings and he very much included her sister aspects. He also had the most profound respect for the people whose souls he was about to harvest, and always called them "clients". Severus never referred to them in a deprecatory manner, as he had just done.
This was just not like him. Not like him at all.
What if-
What if this was not Severus?
That meant one and only thing, she realized, her terror only piling up.
Hermione began sobbing, her chest aching as if on fire. And then she screamed. And she screamed again, weeping in desperation. In the Void, her cries echoed throughout the nothingness, travelling around the strange and unchartered dimensions of the astral plane behind Purgatory.
Then someone came. Another familiar person.
'Oh, my child', said a gentle voice. 'What in the name of nature have you done?'
Mother Nature stared at Hermione and she looked utterly displeased.