Reaper

Chapter 5

I don’t know why being around him makes me so angry. I don’t know why I just want to rip his head off.

After taking a fresh shower and cooling down. I pop an Advil and buy breakfast for Fernie, Jadious and myself. Jadious’s breakfast just five pre packed sirloin steaks.

Dressing in ripped baggy blue jeans and a cropped black sweater, I slide on my sunglasses and leave my hair loose. Heading back through the mirror back into Fernie’s lab.

“Fernie!” I shout as I pass through.

“Awake, and please no shouting.” He says in a whisper. Raising his wand to the castor’s glass it shoot up a beam of light and suddenly there is nothing but darkness. But the glass still activated is enough to light the room. Looking up it’s as if your floating in the Milky Way.

“Had you done this sooner, I wouldn’t have such a problem visiting.” I say and hand him his food as he whispers a ‘thank you.’ I prop the other bags down and begin tearing open the packaged steak throwing the first one to a waiting Jadious who sat patiently at the side of the room.

Some part of me felt some sort of responsibility towards Jadious and I didn’t know why. We only just met.

The king was standing in to the corner talking with his men. I noticed the look he gave me, it wasn’t in anyway endearing. My guess is he loathed me as much as I loathed him. That’s fine with me.

I’m not here to be his friend anyway. I can already tell that he’s too proud.

After feeding Jadious and Fernie getting himself cleaned up. Coming down refreshed and more awake, we catch him up on what the king told us. Leaving out the part with me completely berating him.

“Well this is quite a dilemma.” Fernie says. “I wouldn’t expect us to know what we were dealing with, but my teacher might.” Fernie let’s out an aggravated sigh and crosses his arms. “It’s going to take us days to get to her. She’s a very private person, she doesn’t allow mirrors. Bex you think you can make the trip?”

“Yeah I can do that.” I say with a nod.

“She’s heard of you. I think you two will actually get along well.”

“Okay, what do we tell the oversized iguanas?” I ask.

“That’s funny, but you need to be nice. Let me handle it, it shouldn’t be too hard to explain.” He says and turns walking over to the king, and his majesty meeting him halfway. They talk loud enough for us to hear.

“I can take the specimen to my former teacher to see if she may have any idea what magic constructed it. But it’s going to take a few days to get to her, she’s very far from your kingdom.”

“I can deploy one of my men to assist you.” He says.

“Thank you your majesty but Bex is faster.”

With that statement the two men behind him let out a low thunderous growl. The kings eyes flashing brightly and Fernie steps back with a nervous look on his face.

“What exactly are you implying, Doctor?” He says lowly.

Fernie tries to muster up the words but underneath his intense stare it was almost impossible for him.

“What he’s implying, lizard prince,” I say capturing his attention in an instant. “Is that I’m faster. Nothing more nothing less and if you got a problem, you can get up in that sky and prove me wrong. But until then, cool it you overgrown snake.” I say. In an instant he stomps his way towards me.

“You are the most infuriating Grim Reaper I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting. And if you weren’t as interesting as you were, I would have killed you a long time ago. The only reason why I haven’t killed you yet-“ he stutters on his words as a fog rolls from his mouth.

The room around us seems to darken, the air growing colder, I watch as his skin begins to prickle. Smiling up at him as I slowly unleash my magic onto him.

“Bex.” Fernie says in warning.

I don’t listen as I lean in smiling up at the king. He tries to speak but can’t as his skin begins to pale and his eyes become bloodshot. His voice sounding as if he’s being choked I watch as his hand comes up to hold his throat. The wild look of frustration on his face, and slight fear.

The effort to not fall to his knees as he grips the edge of the table that I was leaning on. Staring hard into my eyes, it only made me smile more to see him try to stay alive against my magic.

“I could kill you right now.” I say in a low whisper. Grinning widely as his face got even paler. “I could kill you and it wouldn’t be that hard. It would in fact be really easy. I wouldn’t even need to lift a finger.”

He lets out a choked breath, his eyes turning more red by the second.

“Don’t tempt me little dragon, piss me off and I just might.” And with that I release him of my magic. He wretches back coughing hard as he holds his throat in his hand. Watching him struggle to catch his breath as his eyes and skin return to normal. Glaring at me as he tries to catch his breath, it only made me smile more.

Hours later the dragons had left and Fernie was mapping out the route to get to his former teacher. Jadious had left saying he was needed elsewhere.

“When was the last time you practiced your flying?”

“I do it a lot more back home than I’d care to admit. I’m sure I scared a couple of crackheads around my block from time to time.” I say with a chuckle. But Fernie turns to me with a serious look on his face.

“If you see Emperor Demethos outside the laboratory, please remain respectful.” He says.

“I don’t plan on seeing him at all.” I say seriously. “He is annoying and such an ass. I don’t feel guilty for doing that to him at all.”

“However Bex, you are the outsider here. Everyone in the Otherworld knows and loves him. They know him, they respect him, and they trust him. They don’t know you. You need to protect yourself even if that means smiling when you don’t want to.” He says. “Just please grin and bare it. If not for your benefit then do it for your best friend.”

With a groan I give a reluctant sigh. “If he starts something then I’m ending it, I can promise that.”

Moments later we are heading out the door as Fernie goes over the directions again. He gives me a brown side bag and I put it over my shoulder, adjusting the strap.

“The specimen is in there, along with a note from me in case she is skeptical. Some food, and a thermos filled with a whiskey Pete’s.” He says.

“You are such a dad.” I say laughing and he gives me a round cheeked smile behind his grey mustache. “Don’t worry.”

Fernie’s lab was only a couple feet away from a cliffs edge. It overlooked the town that sat beside the shoreline. The blue water stretching into the horizon, and the sun high in the sky.

“Hopefully your friend will be able to tell us something.” I say as we get closer to the cliffs edge. “I don’t explore this place enough though. It’ll be a good excuse for me to see some s**t I have seen.”

“Be safe will you.” Fern says.

“Of course I will.” I say giving a salute as I run towards the cliffs edge and jump launching myself off. My body beginning to plummet to the sea. I let my magic take over.

A black smoke beginning to roll off my body. The fast I fall the more it engulfs me and with a deep breath I stop. Floating just a second above the surface of the water barely touching it.

Holding myself in mid air until I feel my magic completely take over. The moment it does is the sweetest feeling I could ever have. My body flies up towards the clouds, I stretch my arms out and the smoke that clings to my body takes form of a bird.

As if I have wings I dive into the clouds and fly. Soaring above the clouds as I follow the direction of the wind. Letting my body be carried by the force of air. The sun shining on my body, the heat giving me more warmth than I’ve ever felt before.

It was beautiful.

I’m so used to flying at night. I never could know the joy of the sunlight on my skin as I levitated through the sky. I decide to enjoy the feeling.

A few hours into the trip there I’m flying low to see the sights. The smoke around me casting the shadow of a bird on the trees that we flew over. Enjoying the feel of the wind blowing through my clothes, I barely noticed the larger shadow appearing just next to mine.

Reacting quickly I bank to the side barely avoiding the claws of a dragon. Thinking quick, I speed up, flying fast towards the clouds noticing plenty of other dragons waiting for me. One of them shining with the familiar colors of red and gold. I let out a deep breath and using my magic I change myself from a bird to invisible.

I don’t like it though. Keeping myself invisible while flying takes a lot out of me. Turning invisible on its own is still hard. Diving from the clouds, my little trick worked as I noticed them all flying around in confusion.

Looking around for where I could have gone. The red and gold scaled dragon let’s out a loud roar, clear frustration in his cry. I can’t help but feel a twinge of victory as I turn and fly off. I keep flying long after the sun has set and finally decide to call it in for the night. Flying down to the side green fields below, giving up my invisibility and falling to the ground.

The grass was enough the cushion the fall and I groan at the ache in my muscles. My arms and legs feeling like noodles, refusing to move from all the effort out magic took.

With a yawn I throw my arms over my head and stretch my body out. The grass tickling my legs through the holes in my jeans. I turn over and bring myself to stand opting to just walk for a while. I pull the shoulder bag around, flipping the lid and digging through it for the food as my stomach let out an angry growl.

I fish out the burrito Fernie made for me and I smile. Unwrapping the foil and sinking my teeth into it ravenously, I aching to fill that bottomless pit in my stomach.

Walking and eating as I enjoyed the view of the wide open grass fields. The moon a bright opalescent color, an array of shimmering hues that looked absolutely ethereal. Mesmerizing.

The stars shining brightly inspite of the moons attempts to outshine them. It only makes the night sky look more immaculate. Just looking at it seemed to swallow me up.

Continuing to eat as I walk. My body enjoy the feel of normal movement. Simple walking to ground me again. Opting to spend the night here I sit down on the ground against trunk of a dead tree and finish my food. Laying back on the grass closing my eyes.

My ears filling with the sound of the light life around me. The wind blowing through the long grass and the distant roars of the monsters that hid in the shadows of the night. I had nothing to worry about from them.

“Reaper.” I hear someone whisper. My eyes slowly opening to see Detus and Noen both on their knees leaning over me.

“There is a dragon circling you.” Noen whispers.

“What?”

“You fell asleep, there is a dragon circling you.”

“I lost them. They’re not circling me.” I groan in annoyance.

“Reaper!” Detus whispers heatedly. “They will see you if you don’t conceal yourself soon. I’ve already spotted three flying this way. You need to wake up!”

“Wake up, Reaper!” They reach out their hands grabbing my arms, the moment they touch me I am wretched out of sleep. It’s still dark out but the first light of the sun peaks over the worlds edge. Rubbing away the blurriness from my eyes as I look up to the sky.

Within the darkness that was being chased away by the sun’s first rays, I saw the silhouette of a dragon flying.

“Motherfucker.” I mutter as I pull myself from under the dead tree that concealed me. Hauling my ass off the ground as I see another dragon pass overhead. Seeing both of them bank right turning back in my direction. I quickly crouched next to my hiding place as they flew back in the direction they came form.

It’s still dark out. If I act now I can loose them and making it to Fern’s teacher before the day is out.

Securing the brown shoulder back over my shoulder I take off in a run. The open field ahead as the wind pushed my body to run faster. As I hear the angered roar of a dragon I kick off into the sky. The black smoke rolling off my body and forming the shape of a bird.

Hiding in the lingering darkness of the sky as I took off away from the hoard. Soaring over the field until it gives away to more water and soon I see nothing but the ocean. The dragons far behind me as I follow the route to Fernie’s friend.

For most of the morning I’m flying, eventually having to fly close to the surface of the water to remain hidden. I keep going for most of the afternoon until I see land in the distance.

Finally making it I fall hard to the ground heaving hard. Coughing as I feel the burn in my body. I’m not used to having to fly for a whole day and a half. Groaning as I flip onto my back feeling the ache in my muscles.

Without having the chance to even register my surroundings I open my eyes to find the head of a spear pointed directly at my face.

At the other end stood a woman, face painted half white around her eyes as shining silver armor dawned her tall physique. Her all white eyes glaring at me. Looking around and I’m surrounded by other women who look almost the same as she does.

“Who are you!” She shouts in an attempt to intimidate me. I remain calm and sigh, she’s just doing her job.

“I’m here on behalf of Dr. Ferdinand Moses.” I say and dig through the bag laying at my side fishing out the letter Fernie said to use. “He was a former student to your mistress and we need her help.”

The soldiers and her entourage slap a pair of large iron handcuffs on me before lugging me onto a beast of mass proportions. It looked something like a rhino, but walked with eight legs along the side of its body and was dawned with the same type of armor the women wore. Spiked horns on its head resembling a crown, the tips of each horn lined with more silver.

They drag me through their city, tall buildings made from glass and precious metals, the people walking about looking expensive as they wore clothes made from silks and embedded with jewels. Everything was terribly bright, in the most literal sense possible.

At least with the humans in the city there’s an option to turn the lights off.

We come up onto a large castle that looked to be made entirely from glass. The peaks of the towers reaching into the sky and glinting in the sunlight. The doors to the castle opening as we pass through. The people on the side of the road watching me with curious fascination as I sat on top of the animal.

Passing through into the large castle the doors closing behind us, shielding us from the curious stares being thrown our way.

Now inside the castle, I look around seeing that I was right. The castle doesn’t look like it’s made from glass, it actually is made from glass. Designs carved into the matter making it look like ice is what lined the walls and floors.

“Who is this?” A genteel voice coming from further down the hall. I follow the sound and see a woman standing a little ways away. Dressed entirely in white, having a sort of ethereal feel to her.

“She claims to know a former student of yours Mistress. Dr. Ferdinand Moses. She says-“

“Bex Veline.” She says in an excited whisper as she quickens her face towards us.

“You know this woman, Mistress?” The solider looking surprised as she shoots me a look, but all I do is shrug.

“Yes. She is Ferdinand’s daughter! Oh I’ve wanted to meet you for so long! Why is she in those cuffs?” She asks as she eyes the cuffs slapped around my wrists. “Get her out of those right now!”

She says as she gets closer, finally seeing her in a better light. She looked timeless, a tall woman that oozed elegance and regality. She was almost glowing at me as she gave me a wide smile.

The solider that brought me here works quickly to undo the cuffs. I slide down from the animal as I roll my now free wrists. Moving closer to the lady as I give a slight bow of my head.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Bex and as you already know, Fernie sent me.” I say and hold out the letter for her. She takes it but doesn’t open it, her cerulean eyes boring into me with wild fascination.

“Ferdinand talked a lot about you. He was very proud of you. He said a lot in fact and I have to ask, is it true that you commune with the dead?” She asks stepping closer to me.

“Usually.” I say and I could tell the answer irks her. Her smile widening with no warmth.

“I’ve spoken to Jadious as well.” She says lowly still maintaining her smile. “He speaks fondly of you. If you are truly a Grim Reaper I want to be on your side.”

“Death doesn’t take any sides, lovely.” I say curtly. I know what she’s asking, and I’m surprised she is bold enough to try it.

“Im sure you can be swayed.” She says her hand reaching up taking a strand of hair between her fingers. Twisting it in her hand gently toying with it as she looks at me intensely. I remain impassive, not reacting to her contact.

“I can give you wealth, I can give you love, I can give you the world.” She whispers.

Without hesitation I hold up the petrie dish. The gooey black substance still active inside, and the mistress’s attention being compromised the minute she sees it. Holding in the air for her to see it squirm in its confines, almost grimacing at it.

“The letter explains the situation right now and why we need your help. It’s because of this.” I say and she takes it from me, holding it up to the light like I did. Staring at it no doubt unsure and grossed out at it.

“If you could tell us what magic animated this then it would help a lot.” I say and turn away from her.

“Wait!” She says. “If I do this for you, will you be on my side?”

“I thought you wanted to be on my side.” I say c*****g an eyebrow at her.

“If I do this,”

“You should do this, because it’s your former student reaching out for his teacher.” I say my voice reeking of condescension. She seemingly pauses, staring at me with an unreadable expression. “If it’s me you’re curious about, simply ask me whether or not your death will be painless. Trust me, that makes for much more interesting conversation than your fear.”

I turn not leaving room for her rebuttal. As the doors open for me to leave, I see the shadows of the dragons in the clouds.

It’s going to be a hassle to outrun them from here.