Time Jacker by Aaron Crash (nonfiction book recommendations .TXT) 📕

sometimes when I touch fruits or vegetables, they turn black and rot. But that’s not strange, is it?”

That made him laugh. “Really?”

“No!” she said with a bit too much laughter. “I can eat salad just like the next girl. I just need to use a fork.”

It sounded like a joke, but he wasn’t sure.

Jack offered her his arm, and she took it. Arm in arm, they walked up the steps to the rooftop. Jack felt the Septua energies inside her, and, yes, she did have elevated Decaysia levels. What did that mean? He didn’t know, but being with Annie, even as friends, made him feel good in a way he couldn’t quite explain.

Up on the bar’s rooftop, Evelyn Mundi let out a yell when she saw Annie. “I’m so glad you came!” The middle-aged woman stormed over to give Annie a huge hug. Evelyn then introduced her all around.

Moms handled it well, but Aunt Sue stared at Annie a bit too long. Then she nodded. “Oh, it’s Jackie’s girlfriend from the bank. The one that disappeared.”

“Just a friend.” Annie didn’t let her smile dim. “And I’m back. I was in Vegas, doing magic and reaping souls.” She made a cutting motion with her plastic scythe.

Aunt Sue lit a cigarette. “When the Grim Reaper comes to me I’m going blow smoke in his face and call him a pussy.”

Annie rolled with it. “I’m sure death has heard it all, right?”

She then got pulled into a conversation with Evelyn about work.

Jack drifted over to the skull fire and sat down. Seeing Annie again had shaken him a bit. However, Gabby gave him an encouraging look from where she stood at the railing, talking with Pinetree and Bailey.

As for the demon, she threw Annie a look of longing followed by a hateful glare. Talk about mixed signals. Annie seemed not to notice, or she was doing a good job pretending.

Hugo sat down next to him. The guy was smiling. “Jack, I wanted to say thanks again, from me and my mom. I can move on now. And she went back to work at the bank. With Annie. But I think you knew that.”

Jack nodded, but he didn’t talk about how he’d had visions of Evelyn Mundi’s various potential lifespans. And he wasn’t going to mention how sapphically sexual his mother was. It was best not to think about the sex lives of your parents.

“I’m glad you and your mom are okay,” Jack said simply.

Hugo had seemed normal for a minute, flirting with Sally, drinking Cokes, just a guy at a bar. But then a wild light filled his eyes. “But I have to warn you, Jack. You’re going to be a part of the Time War. But I think you knew that.”

“Time War?” Jack felt a shiver go down his spine. The fire burning in the eyes and mouths of the skull took on a diabolical light.

Hugo nodded. “The Tempus Bellum, the war that is now but not yet. The war that has always been but never was. You’re going to be on the front lines eventually, just as you are fighting it right now. And you will have your brides with you, in the infinite battle, and you will all witness the rise of the Mistress of Death, as she assumes powers beyond imagination. I have been chosen as your messenger by forces I cannot understand. And my mother is the mother of the messenger. Both mother and son, sacred and powerful, will serve the surviving son, the sixth son of the sixth son of the sixth son. As the Time Knight, you serve the Influunt, and we will serve you.”

Jack definitely heard the “THE” that time.

“Sacred and powerful,” Jack whispered. He had to grin. So that was why Kerrata was drawn to Evelyn. She was the mother of the Time Knight’s messenger.

“And what about Annie?” Jack asked.

The light filling Hugo’s eyes left them. The strange guy shrugged, then smiled. “I don’t know. She might not be important anymore, but she was, because you loved her. And your love is powerful.”

“What is this about a Mistress of Death?” Jack asked.

Hugo shrugged. “I don’t know. Did I say that? I don’t remember saying that.”

Jack opened his mouth to insist that Hugo give him more of his prophecy, but it was obvious the sweaty guy was back to being his normal old self.

Jack sighed. If this Mistress of Death did rise up, if it was Annie, Jack would stop time and figure it out. Until then, he’d live his life one day at a time.

Jack found himself smiling at Bailey and Gabby, who were both dancing to some old classic rock song, something by Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band. But seeing his demon and angel, dancing, having fun, being carefree, filled him with more happiness than he could say.

A message flashed through his vision.

Current Nefesh: 300/300

His love had filled his soul, right up to the top.

Evelyn brought his mom and aunt over. Annie was with them, looking unsure of herself, as her eyes flickered over to the angel and demon dancing. It was clear Annie was going to leave with Evelyn and everyone else.

Evelyn helped her son stand. “You’ll have to drive us home, Hugo. And I hope you got that nice girl’s phone number. She really seemed to like you.”

Hugo blushed. “I did, Mom. Don’t worry. I know how much you want grandchildren.”

That made Moms sigh. “Yeah, Jack, do you hear that? Some of us want grandchildren.”

Aunt Sue made a face. “Rosie, the last thing you and I need is to babysit. And you know if Jack does knock up one of those little sluts he’s with, we’ll have to babysit.”

“I’m not a slut, Susan,” Gabby called over.

“I am so fucking slutty!” Bailey yelled.

Jack’s mom looked worried for a second, and then she hugged him. “Thanks, Jack, for the money. I don’t know where you got it. I worry, but Aunt Sue and I feel safe and taken care of. Just