The Time Key

When Time Stood Still

Shura snapped awake in another strange place, and Mephisto was gone again.

The weight of the literal world was on Shura's shoulders. 

Mephisto's flashback, if true. It was nothing but pain and suffering. Could she stop it?

Everyone she had ever loved would die. The child she carried would become cursed. It couldn't get any worse, and she had to try to make a better future for her family and friends.

 She had to seal the contract and become Mephisto's champion. Of course, they had barely dated. But in the grand scheme of things, dying wasn't an option, but in this weird fucked-up situation, marriage was.

She was off to a grand start. Mephisto left her in the middle of a fucking forest!

If the demon told Shura the truth, Mephisto planned to save them all. But she would need to trust him and create an eternal bond to ensure the plan came to pass. Could she do it?

"Ah, hello, there!"

Shura spun around to the sound of a woman's voice.

"Uh, who are you?"

A nymph-like woman emerged from the forest, her footsteps so light that she barely touched the ground when she walked. The woman was tall, athletic, and wore a long, gauzy, translucent Chiton. Her thick, richly coloured hair resembled dark, velvety chocolate. Her brandy-coloured eyes were both warm and full of unspoken mischief.

"I'm your bridesmaid." She bowed slightly. "My name is Sappho."

"Sappho...okay," Shura mumbled with uncertainty. "How do you know Mephisto?"

"Ohhhh, Samael? We go waaaay back." She waved her hand dismissively. "No need to worry. I'm one of his souls."

"Pardon?" Shura took a step backward. "His souls?"

"Oh, I probably shouldn't have said that. Uh, anyway. Samael, or...uh...Mephisto, as you know him. He's an excellent spouse for a soul."

"Willing or unwilling?" Shura countered. "If I go through with this contract, will I be a prisoner?"

"He doesn't want to entrap you; you beat his challenge," Sappho explained. "You will retain your autonomy no matter what happens."

"So, um..." Shura felt a cold shiver run down her spine. "What's gonna happen to me now?"

 "Samael wants to remove you from the timeline. That means you must become a part of him. It is a wonderful thing to be considered one of the souls. It is a gift of collaboration and knowledge sharing. To become part of the external timeline is a sign that you are beyond special."

"You can't take someone from a timeline," Shura questioned with a wince. "It means I've never existed."

"He will untie you from the past and future. You will still remember the life you lived. But the rest of your friends and family will not remember this version of you. But, of course, you will continue to exist. That is the cost of saving the world. Do you still wish to proceed?"

"Rin and Yukio...they won't know me." Shura's face fell. "But if it means they avoid all the pain they've experienced. It's the right thing to do."

"You already have Mephisto's blood." Sappho sighed. "All that is left is the acceptance of his heart."

"I don't like this." Shura griped. "It sounds complicated."

"Once you take him on, the new vessel for Satan will be set free."