Rene replaced the stone in the wall, perfectly aligning the hieroglyphic images of Goddess Aset as he did so. She had temporarily allowed him a corporeal form in order to create his message, as his time-traveling self was too weak to exert influence on the physical world and he bad no interest in taking control of Asim’s body for the moment, lest he change the future and wipe Emory from existence. 

It was time now. Time to take Little-Emory’s hand and return to the future. He had given it a lot of thought. Armed with the knowledge of Khalid’s every move, he had a wide array of moments to return to. Places in time to reach in order to save Misha and Ari, and everyone else. He had a specific moment in mind. 

Rene gave one last look around. His eyes alighted on that perfect frozen image of him as Asim, and Khalid, heads bowed in front of their Goddess. He remembered exactly how he had felt in that moment, the well of love that had poured forth toward Khalid whom he could not fathom losing at that time. How strange that he meant now to return to the future and destroy him. 

He turned to the Future Aset and Future Emory, who remained separated now. No longer a strange morphing amalgam of both their features. Goddess Aset was adorned in an ornate dress of gold and turquoise that seemed to ripple out behind her. There was an intricately decorated headdress atop her long flowing black curls. Future Emory stood resolute in a simple white flowy shirt and equally white flowy pants, sandals on her feet. She looked at him with shining eyes, on the verge of real tears. He wondered what would happen to her now. Would she cease to be? Was he leaving his daughter to die in a sense?

She shook her head at him, clearly reading him. 

“I don’t know what happens to me now, but I know that I’ll always have existed. I’ll remain in memories, in your mind, and in hers.” Future Emory gestured toward Little Emory. 

“How did you know we had to come here?” Asked Little Emory, surprising Rene with the question. “You pulled me here, and in our first life, you asked me to bring daddy to the temple. How did you know that Aset would listen?”

Future Emory glanced at Aset, “She has a weakness for this place. It was built long ago in her honor. Asim’s mother and Khalid’s helped awaken her in this temple that night Asim and Khalid ran away. This is where she brought her son, thousands of years ago.”

Aset frowned, possibly uncomfortable by Emory explaining intimate details of her life. 

“What?” Asked Future Emory, “You don’t like that I picked up a few things about you in our little connection. A connection that I never wanted, by the way.”

Aset looked in that moment incredibly human, perhaps feeling shame for what she had done to Emory. 

She finally spoke in her ethereal voice, “This temple was not built by man to worship me, but by my beloved Aser, the husband I lost and searched the Earth for. One night was all I had with him when I found all the pieces of his shattered body, spitefully split apart by our jealous brother. I used every bit of magic I could muster to bring him to life. We fled here, to this place, where we had one final intimate night before he was called eternally to death. Here, my beautiful Horus was created. Here, my sweet boy took his first steps. This temple does not dwell exactly where you think it does. It cannot be found by just any mortal. One must be called to it, pulled to it. Pulled as you and Khalid were that night when your mothers begged for your safety. Pulled as Emory was to bring her from the timeline. I have great affection for this temple, and not just any may reach within her borders.”

Rene swallowed, touched by Aset’s story. Of course, he had read about it in library books and learned about it in history, but it wasn’t the same as watching the pained memories play out in his Goddess’ eyes. 

“Please Goddess, I must ask-” Rene started.

“I will do as you need, when the time comes. If the goal is truly to serve for the betterment of mankind, then yes.” Said Aset.

Rene nodded, a knot in his stomach as he realized he was about to go live his own moments of pain to protect his loved ones. He looked down at Little Emory, who had tears rolling down her face. 

“It’ll be okay.” Said Rene, getting on his knees and pulling her into a hug. 

“No it won’t.” Emory shook her head. “I don’t want to lose you.”

Aset did something unexpected, getting to her knees and putting a hand upon Emory’s shoulder. 

“Your father will be in my care for all eternity. I will look after him, and many years from now when you pass into the Duat and look upon him once more, it will feel as though no time has passed at all. My sweet girl, would that I could remove all the pain you are about to feel. I know that I have failed you before, and I also know that you are so brave, so strong. You will weather this, and grow to make the world a better place than I ever could have.”

Aset glanced back at Future Emory, who was eyeing her with a strange perturbed look, like an older child watching their parent be more patient with their youngest sibling than they ever had been with them. 

Future Emory turned to Rene, and he saw within her the years of pain and torment that had been her first life. The moments of losing everyone she loved. Of watching the destruction of the entire world around her. No decent parent could want that for their child.

“I’m sorry,” Rene told her, looking into her eyes which were so much like Ari’s eyes, full of strength, and secrets, and so much love, “for everything. I’m sorry for the life you had to live because of me.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Said Future Emory. 

“Perhaps it was. I’m the one who went back in time and told myself about Khalid, about the horrible things he had done to my past selves. I set him upon a path to become a terrifying monster. It’s my fault he did what he did in your future.”

Future Emory smiled, “That’s a funny way to look at it. You would never have gone back to warn yourself if I hadn’t sent you on your path to time travel. In my first life, you died. You never went back, and still, Khalid existed as he was. I existed as I was. And we would not have done so had you not warned Aidan and Cody about him. It’s almost as though I was meant to live that first life, meant to see the horrors wrought by Khalid and…” she glanced at Aset, “and learn how to send you back in the first place. My existence, as it is, has been the joint effort of everyone in this room. My suffering, just an unhappy side-effect of that existence. And our Goddess has finally come to understand why her future isn’t possible and this one was always meant to be.”

Tears were rolling down Aset’s cheeks, and Rene could swear they were flecked with turquoise. She looked on Future Emory now with such a fondness, almost a longing. 

Aset spoke softly to Future Emory, “You are as a daughter to me. Parents do not always know what is right for their children, and you grew so far past me that I was unable to see it. To understand it. I owe you thanks for opening my eyes.” 

“I have one mother,” Said Future Emory, “and her name is Ari. She was willing to put her life on the line for me, and she would do it again a thousand times.”

“And we’re going to save her.” Said Little Emory, squeezing Rene’s hand. 

Aset looked somber. Her gaze traveled down to Little Emory, “Before you go, I want to offer you something. The chance to forget all of this. To live a normal life as a little girl without the weight of the world on her shoulders.”

Little Emory looked wide-eyed at Aset, then up at Rene, and finally at the future version of herself. She took a moment to consider, then shook her head. 

“I want to remember.” She said. “I want to know why daddy is making his sacrifice. I want to be able to help mommy and dad remember too.”

Future Emory smiled.

Rene smiled at his daughter, both versions of her. He mouthed, “I love you” to Future Emory, who mouthed it back. Then, wiith one last glance at his Goddess, who was looking back at him now with something like curiosity in her gaze, he gripped Little Emory’s hand tight, then closed his eyes and focused on a moment. 

He could feel them, flung out into the tempest of thought and memory. He didn’t dare open his eyes for fear of pitching himself forward and accidentally changing a moment in time he had no intention of changing. He concentrated very hard on a day at the beach. The day where it had been so windy that Misha had hidden his camera under his shirt.

Suddenly, he felt sand and salty water against his face, and he opened his eyes to find himself in that moment. Misha was there, grinning at him and snapping photos of Rene running through the water. Emory was hanging on to Misha’s back. It was Emory’s birthday, September 22nd, 2022, and Misha was alive once more. 

A feeling of relief and joy came bubbling out of Rene at the sight of his beloved husband, and he couldn’t hold back the tears as he looked at those ocean blue eyes squinting against the deluge of wind and sand. 

“What is it?!” Misha called over the gale of wind. “Did you get something in your eyes?”

Rene shook his head, taking several quick steps out of the water toward Misha, and sweeping him and Emory into a crushing hug. 

“I love you so much!” Rene said, to both of them. Emory was looking at him from over her dad’s shoulder, a grin on her face, while at the same time a sadness in her eyes. 

Misha yelped as a particularly strong gust of wind swept up and blew sand at his camera. 

“Maybe we should go inside somewhere!” He suggested. 

Rene nodded, standing back to look at him, to simply take him in. His beautiful Misha. 

“Ice-cream!” Emory shouted, and Rene burst out laughing. It had become a pattern in her life to be denied ice-cream when she had been expecting it. Today, it was time to end that sad streak.

“Ice-cream.” Rene nodded. 

Misha turned with Emory on his back, and as they headed to the car, they saw Ari, who had just come back from the bathroom. She looked at them in surprise. Rene felt his heart pounding in excitement at seeing her. She was safe. She wasn’t under Khal’s control, and he would see to it that she never was again. 

“Where are we going?” Ari asked.

“Ice-cream!” Emory exclaimed, jumping off of Misha’s back and running over to give Ari a huge hug. Rene turned away for a second, pretending he had something in his eye as he was overwhelmed by emotion from this perfect moment. The reality of what he had to do could wait. His family was all here. They were all safe and happy. 

For this moment, everything was fine. 

*****

Rene only gave himself one month with his family. Any longer than that, and he wasn’t sure he would be able to go through with what he needed to do, and it was imperative that he did so, or all of it would be for nothing. He spent those blissful weeks just reveling in what he had. He bought Emory all the ice-cream she could ever ask for. He gave Misha a million kisses, and spent night after night just staring into those shining blue eyes, basking in that perfect grin. Every intimate moment was a blessing, every new conversation a welcome moment of bliss. He shared thoughts with Misha that he had never shared before, memories it had never occurred to him might be worth exploring with the love of his life. He reminded Misha every single day of just how much he meant to him. To all of them. 

He paid special attention to Ari, feeling eternally grateful to her for everything she had been through. Every horror she had endured that she did not currently remember. She was one of his best friends in the world, and knowing he would have to cause her pain again was devastating. But as he considered the alternative, he remembered watching her cut her own throat. He gave her a kiss on the cheek one day as he was leaving her house after dinner, and she looked at him in surprise.

“What was that for?” She asked.

“Oh, you know, for being one of the coolest people that I’ve ever met in my life.” Said Rene. “For being a rock, a voice of reason, and a mother to put all other mothers to shame. Don’t ever forget the wonderful person you are, Ari.” Said Rene.

She punched him in the shoulder playfully, “What drugs are you on?”

Rene merely grinned, feeling such a tender and pure love for his family that he found it difficult in any given moment to continue along the path he knew he must take. 

He skipped a few more days of work than he ever might have in the past, but was always giddy to see everyone at the library. Julie and Charlie were alive, happy, and unharmed. Rene took it into his own hands to start an investigation into library funds that found his boss, Carl, guilty of the embezzlement Khalid had caught him in before. The trustees reached out to offer Rene Carl’s job, and he told them he would consider it. He genuinely hoped they would give it to Katrina after everything went down, and made sure to talk her up to them. 

Standing at the top of those library stairs was strange. He thought about Jeff Aquino, and the fact that he would never have to become the monster Khalid had forced him to be. That those young men would never have to die for Khalid to prove a point. Rene had never been convinced that Aquino’s victims were as evil as Khalid claimed. He had watched the news stories of the victims’ families reaching out, letting the world know the horrors of their losses. Many of the stories indicated they were decent young men, caught by a monster to create the perfect tattoo. 

Rene visited Katrina on maternity leave, bringing her lots of gifts to help out with the babies. She brought up how she had entered him in the librarian of the year contest and he smiled. It didn’t matter now. None of that mattered. It was so good to see her, even when she was a frazzled mess who looked moments away from falling into a two-year coma to catch up on sleep. 

He secretly set his affairs in order, including raising the amount of money he had in his life insurance policy, but casually, so that it wasn’t obvious what he was about to do. He also talked Misha into getting a second car, even though Misha hated driving. Rene wanted to encourage his beloved husband to do more things outside his comfort zone. Plus, he knew Misha would need a car when he was gone. They settled on a beat-up old Carolla, that Misha admitted had plenty of character and actually took out for drives a few times. 

Rene wrote a special message to Misha in his dream journal with specific instructions. He hoped that Misha would read the journal when he was ready, but he also told Emory about it so that she could prompt him. 

He then set about leaving some anonymous tips about certain people working at the hospital, as well as Colleen’s husband, and a specific police officer. He was pleased to watch the news one night and find a number of people had been arrested, including the hospital CEO, the man he and Khalid had forced to kill himself in a previous life to protect others from him. Justice might not win out to the same extent now as it had before, but he knew he couldn’t leave without making sure those monsters were at least behind bars. 

The month was finally coming to an end. Rene knew it. Emory knew it. She gripped his hand a little tighter every day, and it was clear she wasn’t ready to let go. And why would she be? He certainly wasn’t. 

On October 22nd, Rene had planned an early Halloween party under the pretense of wanting a chill Halloween with his family later. In reality, that Saturday was his last day with them. He woke up that morning feeling a vice on his heart, cursing Khalid for forcing him to do this. Emory came into his room and lay on the bed between him and Misha, who was snoring away. She looked into Rene’s eyes, and it was clear that she had a million things to say, but kept silent. 

“I love you, Em.” Rene whispered. “I’ll always always always love you. Just know that, okay?”

Emory nodded, tears in her eyes, “I love you too, daddy.”

They lay there cuddling for an hour or so until Misha woke up and joined them. One happy family. Rene squeezed Emory tightly to him as he looked into Misha’s ocean eyes, swept up in the beauty of his lover. Misha was alive. He was safe. The sacrifice that Rene was about to make would ensure that this stayed the case, even if it ended up breaking Misha’s heart, and Emory’s, and Ari’s.

A necessary evil to save them all. 

They had a wonderful last breakfast together, with Emory putting on a brave face. Rene hoped she would be able to keep the secret for him. He hated leaving her with the knowledge of everything that had happened and was about to happen. 

The party started in the afternoon, right before it was getting dark. Everyone dressed up. Paige and Brook came over, along with Katrina and her babies and a number of other people. Rene was giddy as he enjoyed all the costumes people were wearing. He was dressed as a vampire, and kept playfully nibbling on Misha’s neck. Emory was dressed as a princess, while Misha was decked out as Prince Charming. Ari decided to go as a pirate, and absolutely rocked the look, big hat, blouse, and all. 

The next few hours were an absolute blast, and Rene was able to distract himself for a time. Slowly but surely, people began to leave. He gave Paige a hug goodbye as she headed out the door with Brooke, but not before telling him the gossip on Colleen’s horrible husband. Katrina, her husband, and the twins got a fairwell hug as well. Rene smiled as he thought about Katrina’s parents living at the base of Mt. Hood, and how no horrors had touched them yet. 

Finally, Ari was the only one left. Rene felt that pit in his throat. He didn’t want her to go. She was giving Emory lots of hugs and kisses before she headed out. When she reached the door, Rene caught up to her and pulled her into a firm hug, refusing to let go for a moment. 

“Errr, help?” Ari said. 

Rene stepped back, wishing he could tell her every wonderful thing he thought about her, but he knew that would be suspicious.

“Love you, Ari!” He said. 

“Love you guys!” Said Ari, putting on her coat and heading out with a big confused grin on her face. 

Rene turned around when Ari had gone to see Emory standing there looking at him, her face red, tears streaking down her cheeks and into the glittery blue of her princess dress. Misha had headed into the bedroom, presumably to get changed, he had been complaining about how itchy his costume was. 

Rene got on his knees and pulled Emory into the tightest hug he could without hurting her. 

“It won’t be forever, darling. We’ll meet again in the Duat.” Rene said quietly. 

“I don’t want you to go.” Said Emory. 

“I know.” Said Rene. 

“But I understand why you have to.” Said Emory. 

Rene smiled, “My clever little girl. Take care of your dad for me, okay?”

Emory nodded, and he could see her swallowing. 

“I love you so much, daddy.” She said. 

“I love you more than anything.” Said Rene, kissing her on the forehead. “My precious girl. My beautiful princess.”

They simply held one another for a moment. Rene found it difficult to let go, but he knew he had to leave, lest he risk everything. He gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead, then stood slowly, wiping the tears from his face before heading into the bedroom to get one last look at Misha. 

“Hey!” Said Misha, upon seeing him looking in the doorway, “How’s my sexy vampire?”

Rene grinned, relishing that moment as he looked on his husband for the final time. Misha was living and breathing, and about to have a long, hopefully mostly happy life. There would the initial pain of loss, of course, but Rene hoped they would all be able to move on and not dwell in sorrow for too long, though he understood first hand how that was easier said than done. 

“Hello my Prince. I have to go for a drive to pick something up for the library that I forgot about on Friday. I love you.” Rene said. 

Misha walked over and wrapped his arms around Rene, giving him a sweet kiss, “Love you too, handsome. Hurry home!”

Rene spent a long moment just breathing Misha in. Every precious thing about him. How he wanted to tell him everything, but it wasn’t time yet. He held Misha tight, then finally forced himself to let go. 

Rene passed Emory on his way out the door. He swept her into his arms for one final kiss, and reminded her of how much he loved her. When he set her down, he forced himself not to look back. 

Rene got into his car, his trusty blue Honda Accord, and drove away from his home for the last time. With his heart in his throat, he headed along the road until he found the section he had been studying excessively during the daytime when he was skipping work. He needed to time this just right. With the dark flotation device he had recently procured at hand, he waited for another car to pass him, then veered violently off the road, making it look like he was avoiding an animal of some sort, and careening down the hill and into the Willamette River. It took no time at all for the car to submerge, but Rene had forced the door open just before impact. He held the flotation device as the frigid waters engulfed him, making it difficult to breathe, and he floated quickly along with the rushing waters in the dark, just glimpsing car lights at the top of the hill where his car went in. 

He floated along as far as he dared, shedding the vampire cape and fangs, feeling some guilt for littering as he did so, but knowing he would make up for it later. When he was several miles away from the car, he swam to the side of the river and slowly pulled himself out. All he had on him now were the clothes on his back and the burner phone wrapped in plastic in his pocket. He had purposely left his phone and all of its memories safe at the house with Misha and Emory. 

Rene pulled himself up to a quiet road, and went to find a heated vent behind a building as his teeth were chattering. Once he warmed up enough and got his bearings, he figured out that he wasn’t even in the same city anymore. Good. He pulled the burner out of his pocket, freed it from the plastic, and dialed the only number he had saved in it. 

“Hello?” Came that all too familiar voice. 

“Khalid,” Said Rene, “It’s me. It’s Asim. I’ve found you.”

“Asim?! Where are you?” Khalid asked, sounding ecstatic. 

Rene closed his eyes, “Khalid, I need your help. Can you send someone to pick me up?”

“Of course! Immediately! Where are you? How did you get this number? How did you even find me?”

“Our Goddess works in mysterious ways.” Said Rene.