Word Count: 1564

~Rosie

Art.

It took me a solid few moments to comprehend everything within the room. Easels, canvases smeared with a variety of striking colours. There's one window at the other end of the room, but it's small, letting in next to no light, yet I can still see all the paintings vividly in front of me. Each one is different. Some are strung on the wall, others propped against each other, cast to the side, as if they mean nothing. Yet, they are all masterpieces in themselves.

Did Time do this?

I approach one of the canvases, and it's not exactly what I would have expected from him. Watercolours blend and mix beautifully on the page, creating a portrait of a woman. She's stunning. Long, golden hair, eyes as silver as steel. On this painting, she wears a turquoise dress that swirls around her hips.

"Your audacity surprises me every day," I hear from behind me. Not bothering to turn around, I continue staring at the painting.

"We're mates now. Shouldn't we be more honest with each other?" I ask softly, finally turning around to face him. He leans against the doorframe to the room, watching me. He doesn't look angry that I invaded his privacy.

Not that I care much for his reaction.

"I suppose you just unveiled my greatest, darkest secret," he muses, motioning to his room.

I suppose it's just a hobby, and Time is being sarcastic. I don't doubt he has darker, more sinister secrets that I don't plan on bringing to light. Not yet, at least. I have bigger, better priorities. Wading through paint pots and brushes isn't one of them, yet I couldn't help but be curious. This is a glimpse into his mind, which isn't as dark and frightening as I first expected. Whoever this woman is, he sees her in great light.

"Who is she?" I ask, motioning to the painting. Those eyes are haunting, looking into my soul. Whoever she is, in person, she must be so much more striking. I wonder if she is still alive, or from Time's past.

"Now that, is a dark secret of mine," he states, stepping into the room. "One I'd like to keep to my chest."

Great. Now I'm curious.

"Well, I met your brother. As handsome as he is, he's not all that helpful. To me, at least," I comment. I took care to through in a note about his appearance. It's uncanny how alike Thought and Time are, however, the slight differences are what make them their own.

Time's expression falls at the mention of his brother. Now I've gotten his attention. Just his reaction alone is enough to suggest their relationship is not that of a common family. I plan of using that in the future, if I get the chance to. I decide to voice my assumptions, wanting him to admit something about his brother that I don't know.

"When you're alive for eternity, family tend to get on your nerves," he comments.

"Twins?"

A muscle in Time's jaw ticks, a flicker in that golden eye appearing. Maybe he isn't so hard to bother as I first assumed. Whatever goes on in that mind of his is admittedly fascinating, and not yet known to me. Still, though, I know one thing. Him and his brother don't get along. It might not seem like much, but it could mean leverage against him in the future. And leverage is worth a million, to an Immortal.

"You should go back to sleep," is all he says, before he turns, walking out the room. I watch his back, covered in a black tunic, as he walks away.

I'm not going to leave. Not just yet.

The paintings intrigue me. His talent is remarkable, but when you all eternity to work on them, it's not wonder they are so...perfect. I would never tell him that, though. His ego is large enough without me adding to it. I'll simply admire in peace.

Looking about, I tug a canvas out from another that leant against the wall. I want to see a painting Time doesn't want anyone else to see, that he's ashamed of. The one I pull out is of a man, clearly not mortal. Lugging it over to an empty easel, I rest it on there delicately. Who knows what Time would do to me if I ruined one of his works of art.

It's of a man. A beautiful man with refined, delicate features. His eyes are the perfect lavender shade, contrasting to the darkness of his hair. It can't help but make me wonder who he is, as for some reason he looks so familiar.

The more I stare, the more interesting it seems. Time is so talented, it's as if he is actually looking at me.

Wait. He is...

Lashing out, I push at the canvas, the entire easel and painting coming crashing to the ground. The sound is horrific, but I'm more concerned by the imprint of those lavender eyes within my head. I'm cursed, they are going to be trapped within my head forever, and I'll be eternally haunted by some immortals eyes.

I feel hands on my bare arms. Soft, gentle hands that elicit a funny feeling under my skin. Sparks, from a mate. Time. He speaks to me urgently; I can hear it in his tone. "Is everything okay? What was that sound...Why are my paintings on the ground?"

Whirling around, I gape at him. Blinking a few times, the lavender vanishes, and I'm finally able to see clearly.

"Why did you paint that?"

"Paint what?"

Looking around the floor, I source the canvas. I see it there, upside down. Time, noticing where my gaze lingers, stoops down to pick it up. He must have been feeling particularly evil to paint a picture like that. That is, until he turns it over to face me, and much to my horror, I realise it's white. There's nothing painted on it.

"I haven't gotten to this one yet. Which one were you talking about?" he questions, holding it up to the light. Oh no, I'm going insane.

"I was talking about that one. It had a guys face on it...And his eyes they were lavender and haunting. And they made me feel some weird kind of way," I explain to him. I'm assuming he's thinking I'm as crazy as I sound.

But I swear...

Time looks confused for a moment, before a sudden realisation hits him. He drops the canvas as carelessly as I threw it, grabbing my hand to pull me out the room.

"That man you saw was Sinful. He's playing with you, messing with me. It means he's watching. It means we have to get out of here right now," he tells me, leading me through the hallway, much to my protest. If it means I'm going home, I would be happy, but I already know he isn't going to be doing that any time soon.

"Where? Can you please tell me what's going on?" I growl, as he yanks me back into my bedroom. For a fleeting moment I'm embarrassed by my bunched up sheets and clothes I left lying on the floor. Time doesn't seem to notice, though, which I'm grateful for.

I wouldn't be surprised if I left my underwear hanging about.

"I can't say now, but we need to go somewhere. Somewhere I can keep you safe, because he's listening, which means he's going to strike any moment now," Time tells me. He's going through my dressers now, frantic.

"Am I meant to be okay with this?" I question, sitting down on my bed, watching him look as though he is trying to choose my clothing for me.

"Never mind any of this. Where we are going, these clothes won't work," he comments, tossing the two shirts and a skirt back into the drawer. Just hearing that makes me nervous, considering how little places there must be where I would have to dress differently to the clothes Time has supplied me with.

Time turns to look at me as I speak. "I don't want any of this, remember? The last thing he would expect would be for me to go home, regardless of where that might be now."

I watch his jaw clench, before he kneels in front of me.

"Sinful is a smart man. The sooner you learn that, the better. It means you won't make a mistake, if you underestimate him. He knows you're here, and he is going to wait for a moment of weakness before he strikes," he tells me.

All I want to do, is disagree with him, but I know how seeing that painting made me feel, and it wasn't good. He's out for me, and I don't need Time's word to believe that.

"There's one simple solution," Time mumbles under his breath to the point I almost don't hear him.

I tilt my head, curious.

"I'm going to take you back in time," he says softly.

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Hey guys! If you're enjoying the story, you can head over to Radish and read Time ahead of Wattpad!

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Hey guys! I've released Thought's own story on Radish, which is available now! I want to see by the end, which of the brothers your prefer

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~Midika 💜🐼