The Faultes of the Fates

(This short story was a response to the writing prompt : “I stood by the graveside. We were burying Uncle Eric. Again.”)

The Faults of the Fates

I stood by the graveside. We were burying Uncle Eric. Again.

In 48 hours we will have to wait for the screams to pass. Sometimes it can last for months, usually days but weeks build over time. You’d think that the more frequent the rituals the easier it’ll be, but no. It just weakens The Yarn.

The Yarn is an old variation of the soul string. In its youth the Fates, or more specifically, Clotho, wove thick strands of wool. This meant that life was strong but short and over time the Yarn could fray resulting in premature death or fast weakening.

Very few knew or know the names of the Clotho, most just assume that Clotho is a goddess that works on all the soul strings in existence. Some wise folk do come to the realisation that this is ridiculous as no one entity, no matter how god like, could be burdened with such a task. The Clothom, sometimes referred to as Nona, is an ancient profession ,part of The Fates, that deals with the creation and destruction of life strings. The other sub-professions of The Fates are the Lachesis and the Atropos. The Lachesis are the mathematicians and technicians who deal with the calculations and predictions ,on the lives made by the Clothom, using a rod as their final determiners. The Atropos are the highest ranking, the managers and supervisors, only they have the authority to use the Shears of damnation. These groups do not interact with one another until they pass their training but even then it’s limited. The Clotho is typically separated from the others as they tend to be more emotionally invested in their creations. Death contradicts life.

The Greeks were able to meet the fates as then the fates were young and naive. Time brought them the maturity, knowledge and so fear to learn to hide. Now later generations shroud them in mystery and myth. This unfortunately is not so.

Zoe was young when she spun my string. As no more than a child, she knew little of the craft so like all any other trainees she experimented with no limitations. However, unlike the majority, so her last creation wasn't terminated upon her initiation into Clotho, as per regulation.

For all observers I am the same, but if you were to look deep into my coding there you’d notice the differences. My life, like many of the final trainee creations are eternal. The young tend to create embodiments of their imaginary friend, not surprising since they’re taken in from birth. Without the Lachesis to determine the length of our string we are made eternal. Eternality is a loop, no end but also no start. Our life is either continuous or non-existent. Eric is the same, however his maker is not Zoe as trainees can only make one. Unlike the majority, Zoe’s method was more precise and controlled, she wove her wool into a tight intricate pattern adding engraved beads and embroidered ribbons. My life doesn’t fray.

Uncle Eric’s Yarn is more fragile than most. His life snaps every 12 months.

Honestly we’re all surprised he even met the requirements and didn’t get recycled. I’ve heard rumours that his maker, Kallisto, blackmailed the assessors into passing her trials. This appears true given her recent strings also dying premature. Although during the 14 century many other untrained trainees were promoted without a thorough evaluation. The 1347 - 1351 plague brought the Atropos to the attention of higher powers and a corruption was discovered. However, the details are difficult to find.

When the Clotho were abducted, so was their link to the world. The Atropos say information will corrupt and alter the Fate’s methods. To prevent interference they are secluding and isolating our makers, even to us.

Or so they try.

Zoe was smart. She filled me with loops and holes, extra space for my own freedoms, of choice, of creativity. She gave me room for self alteration. Every 10 years or so she manages my string, a highly illegal maintenance. If we get caught then she will be held responsible, the worst that I’ll be given would be the death penalty.

I know her world so she can know mine. We correspond with secrecy and discretion. No one can know.

Not even to help the suffering.

Uncle Eric suffers more than most.

I wish I could help. Zoe only cares for her own.

Uncle Eric cries through the night.

Eternity is not immortality. We are weak as any other mortal, even more so perhaps. When a strand breaks or snaps, our yarn shivers along its whole circumference. A vibration that resonates within our corresponding vessel. A signal to the world that a tragedy must be invoked. Usually this is initiated by a member of the Atropos and their shears, but then we’re not part of the Fate system. They know nothing of our existence, except a rare few Clotho who have been promoted to that level but most will not betray their own. There are some Clotho that become traitorous and there are the Atropos inspectors also. It is hard to know who to trust.

The weeks drawl on. We have to cover his grave with flowers as the neighbours have started to notice the smell. Thankfully humans can’t hear our howls as we hunt for our base. The base is the lifeline in our loop, here we can stand and be in control. They can suffer this too but humans are linear, without a grounding we are lost in a constant rotation.

Then he was silent.

The wind then follows whispering in chant. A deep hum in harmony with the drum of the dirt, a pounding of fists beneath the horizon. The world stills. Gravity, confused, opposes itself for a fraction of a second. You wouldn't even notice if you weren't expecting it. For all the pain it requires, this is the beauty of our new lives, if life it can be called. A pause, a prayer, a blessing from nature herself granted upon those cursed, as if in sorrow that we cannot join her, but she aides us nonetheless. She cannot accept what hasn’t been taken. Nature is burdened with balance and sacrifice.

The ritual is complete.

The cycle begins again.

Eric awakens.

……..

[To be continued?]