"I just love this movie, don't you?" Death tossed a piece of popcorn into the air and caught it in his eye socket.
"It's okay, but Achilles did not look like Brad Pitt." Chronos slurped his drink and wondered why Hollywood got it wrong so much of the time. Honestly, some of the bizarre notions they came up with…
A piece of popcorn bounced off Death's brow bone, hitting the man in front of them. The gentleman turned to complain but his words got caught in his throat as he stared at the visage behind him. Chronos watched the man blanch and turn back around.
"Is he the one you came for?" Only people about to die saw Death as he really was.
"No, but his time will come soon."
The man jumped out of his seat and ran towards the exit. Death watched him go with a shake of his skull.
"He could have stayed and enjoyed the rest of the movie. I didn't mean that soon."
"Who are you here for?" Chronos scanned the crowd, trying to guess.
"No one. I just thought it'd be fun to go see a movie. Aren't you having a good time?"
Chronos thought it over. It'd been a while since he'd done something not work related.
"Yeah, I guess I am. Pass the popcorn, will you?"
***
After the movie let out they strolled down the Champs-Elysees, watching people scurry by in the cold night air.
"Are you going to the Valentine's Day party at Gaia's tomorrow night?"
"I don't have a date," Chronos said. "Last year Eros kept shooting his arrows at me. They hurt."
"Lucien could fix you up."
"With a succubus? Are you crazy?"
Death's jaw dropped so low in a laugh that Chronos thought it might come unhinged.
"We're in the City of Love, old man. Find a pretty girl and ask her. You've got time."
Chronos chuckled at his friend's little joke.
"I don't think so. Are you taking Helga?" He distinctly remembered Death's date from last year. When he'd tried to shake hands with her, his arm passed right through her mid-section.
"Yes. I am attracted to the pointy horns on her helmet. They don't make Viking women the way they used to. Pity. She sings well too."
"I remember. Pure opera quality."
The party did sound like fun. Maybe he'd speak to Lucien after all. No harm in dating a succubus for just one evening, was there? At least she would keep Eros at bay.
***
"I've got just the girl for you," Lucien said the next morning when Chronos enquired. He snapped his fingers and a well-shaped demon appeared in a puff of smoke.
"This is Lilith. Guaranteed to make you the envy of all men."
"I don't want to be envied and they're all named Lilith."
Lucien chomped on his cigar and smiled. "Minor technicality. She's perfect for you. You'll have to get her back here before midnight though."
"What happens at midnight?"
Lucien studied him for a moment, a red glint in his eye. "You really don't want to know."
Chronos shuddered. Did he really want to do this? Lucien saw the hesitation and slapped him on the shoulder.
"You two will have fun…trust me." He left in a swirl, a wide smile on his face.
Chronos looked at his date and shrugged. At least she'd come clothed.
***
The evening was pleasant enough. Eros found some other victim to harass and Lilith clung to his arm while batting her lashes at him. Helga livened up the evening by belting out a few of Death's favorite funeral dirges while he popped candy hearts in the air to catch.
Chronos glanced at the clock in surprise. It was 11:58. Stopping time didn't work on demons. He rushed Lilith back to Lucien's place just as the clock struck midnight and her hands turned into claws.
"I had a wager going with some of the boys that you wouldn't get Lilith back in time." Lucien chuckled through the smoke of his cigar.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you." Chronos smiled faintly, wondering just what his date would have done to him had he kept her out longer. Her scales were a beautiful ripple of color though.
"Oh, you didn't disappoint me. I won the wager. I knew you'd be conscious enough of the time to get her back."
Chronos wasn't about to admit how close he'd come to losing track, settling for a gracious exit instead. Perhaps next year Helga could hook him up with a friend.
©2010 Laura Eno
