"Like I said, it was a long time ago. Back when you were still alive, even," he explained. It was easy for him to read Charon's body language and respond to it in words. If he couldn't, then he would definitely be in trouble and this would be the part where everything would start to fall apart.

He placed his hand on his own neck and touched the numbers there. Even if he had never seen them, he knew what was there and how those who could see it reacted to it. The response was familiar as every single one of his children reacted in the same way, confusion and something Abel didn't like to think about. He only hoped Charon didn't have the same thought. "My clock's always been like this, ever since I was born. It was always a comfort because it meant that I'd be there to protect the person who mattered most to me."