Ch6 - Failure

We learn from our failures, but some failures are more painful lessons than others.

"You failed."

A calm but stern voice spoke.

In a painful start Purpura gasped, and clutched at his chest.

His eyes were wide as he looked about.

Standing over him was Tempus, looking a tad annoyed.

"You got her killed. That was exactly, what I said NOT to do."

Purpura sat up, and looked about.

He was back in Tempus's realm.

Tempus walked over to a large orb, and studied it.

Purpura kept his hand clutching his chest.

He could feel his heart beating, but he also felt like his body hurt.

Tempus spoke again, "Get up, you're fine.

You must try again, tell me how far back you need to go."

Purpura gently got up, he walked to the orb.

On the orb was an image of Tynan exiting the room where the Queen was.

He saw himself standing in the corner.

"Rotate the orb, and go back as far as you need." Tempus said, looking both bored and annoyed.

Purpura looked to Tempus and tapped his own chest.

Tempus looked to him, then shook his head.

"I'm well aware that you died.

but that isn't important, what's important is that the Queen died.
Now, hurry up."

Purpura seemed to sigh, then looked to the orb.
He thought a moment, before touching it and moving his hand watching as time seemed to flow backwards and forwards to his touch.

It was strange to watch, but he moved it until he saw himself and Tynan.

Pupura was sitting at the table, Tynan was still standing.

He stared at the image, before removing his hand and looking to Tempus.

Tempus examined the moment, "You really think that's all you need?
That's barely an hour before you died."

Purpura felt himself flinch as that statement.

Tempus glanced past Purpura, then to him.
"Fine, hold out the watch."

Purpura took out the watch, Tempus touched it, and Purpura disappeared in a flash.
Left standing was Tempus, quiet.

Tempus waved his hand and the image on the orb faded to simply show a large clock.

All the clocks' hands moved though there was no ticking noises.

Suddenly a door opened.

In walked a male, tall and strongly built.

He had pitch black hair.
His physique was the epitome of male perfection.

He was wearing dark pants that hung low and snug.

As well, an open red jacket with no shirt underneath.

Tempus didn't look or acknowledge the new male's presence.

"Well, hello Tempus."

Tempus sighed, "Sanguine, how good of you to visit."

Sanguine walked over, "Yes, I should visit more."

Tempus looked to him, "What brings you to my realm, Sanguine?"

Sanguine gave a cruel smirk, "Well, in truth...
I recently detected the scent of one of mine."

Tempus looked away focusing on something else, "One of yours?

What possible reason would one of yours be here?"

"That is exactly what I was wondering.

So, why don't you tell me the reason?"

Tempus shrugged, "None of your's have been here.

So, you can take your leave of my realm."

Sanguine gave another smirk, "Do not play dumb,

I can smell their blood.
You know what Dominus said."

"Yes, you must authorize the utilization of any blood demon.

But as I said, there are none here." Tempus said sternly, pre-occupying himself with a clock.

Sanguine walked over, standing right behind him.
"You are lying."

Tempus closed his eyes, taking a slow breath.

"Look, the only person here was a neko."

Sanguine suddenly punched one of the clocks.

"Neko? You're using Purpura!"

Tempus felt himself flinch when the clock was punched.

Sanguine stood with a clenched fist, "How dare you?!
He's one of the last naturals I have."

Tempus looked to Sanguine, "Fine, yes.
I am utilizing Purpura.

He is the only person who can possibly fix my issue."

Sanguine looked to the clock he'd broke, then Tempus.

"I do not care, if he's the only one who can fix your issues.
I wouldn't care if he's the only one that can save the world!"

"Well, technically-"

"I don't care!" Sanguine said sternly, then continued.

"You have to come to me, if you want to utilize any blood demon, no matter what percentage you have to come to me!

You got him killed!"

Tempus spoke sternly, "I fixed it, he's alive now!"

Sanguine punched another clock, "I don't care!"

Tempus shouted, "Stop breaking things!"

"No! I'll break every stupid clock in here!

The ticking drives me nuts!"

He said and punched another shattering it.

Tempus shouted, "Then leave!"

Sanguine growled, "Not until you tell me what exactly you're using Purpura for.
Then I'll decide if you can keep using him, or if I'm reporting you to Dominus."

Tempus looked annoyed, "Fine, i'll explain everything, just stop breaking the clocks."

"Why? You can fix them."
Tempus sighed, "Because each one you break is another alternate time-line I have to fix. It's tedious to keep fixing them."

Sanguine smirked, "Should have thought of that before you used one of my blood demons."

-------------

Purpura sat at the table, Tynan was standing.

Purpura was holding the scroll with the information about Tynan's mother.

Instead he put it away, and handed Tynan a different scroll.

Tynan took the scroll, and read it.
"An assignment together?

Now you're talking.
This last year has been so boring, I'm sick of politics.

Getting to kill somebody should be fun.

Got a picture of this... witch?"

Purpura pulled out a picture, and Tynan examined it.

"Hm... Shouldn't be too hard, but her being a witch does put it in the more dangerous category.

Never know what her specialty is."

Purpura nodded taking the picture back.

They hadn't teamed a proper assignment in a good while.

He wondered if they could still work well together.

Tynan rolled the scroll, "Let me head to my room, to change.

I'll meet you at the estate."

Purpura nodded, and headed off.

As he walked out of the room, and down the hall he saw a shadow and flinched.

He paused a moment, and looked about.

Was this place going to make him jumpy?

His mind was still racing, thinking about what had happened.
He touched his chest again, feeling his heart and listening to the beat.

"Sir?"

Purpura jumped, creating a sword with blood.

Standing back was one of Tynan's guards.

Purpura focused on him, before absorbing the blood.

The guard examined him, "Are you alright, sir?"

Purpura touched his chest before nodding and hurrying off.

The guard watched Purpura leave, "Hm..." he thought a moment before turning towards Tynan's room.

He knocked on the door, and Tynan opened it.
"What do you want?"

"My lord, you said to report odd behavior."

"Well, go on."

The guard nodded, "It is Purpura sir, he seems...

Off. I startled him, by speaking."

Tynan thought a moment, "Thank you for reporting this to me."

"Should I inform the rest of the guards to keep an eye on him?"

Tynan was quiet, "Yes, but not as a threat.

Observe and report information to me."

The guard gave a bow, and left.

Tynan thought a long moment.

"What could possibly have you so distracted that you're startled by a guard...?"

He closed the door in contemplative silence.