Reaper: Love and Death

The Underbelly

Julian POV

Julian was back in his room, after running around the cathedral realizing he wasn't going in any sort of direction. In his room he didn't make it to his bed before collapsing onto his knees, his heart beating fast and his nerves shot.

"Kane, what the hell!" Julian growled.

"I cannot help what I am Julian..." Kane said softly, he knew what happened wasn't entirely on him, but he took the blame anyway. "I wish she had a wolf, it would be easier to communicate, secretly with her and maybe I could've at least given her...a warning maybe."

"Kane...our intentions here are not all justifiable, Adelie will most likely come to harm in the process of our mission. We knew this, the second we came upon her in those woods, we knew what she was to us and what we would need to do. We cannot play with her like that. We need to be ready to either end by her hand or to be rejected if she is feeling merciful." Julian's voice was gruff and filled with pain at the thought of hurting Adelie and the mate bond.

"I understand...I would suggest trying to close off your feelings. Thankfully, the glamour Aurora placed before leaving the packland has stayed." Julian nodded in agreement. Julian was a half-werewolf human but there was more to his genome than that.

Adelie's voice rang out from behind his door to tell him that it was time to leave. Cursing under his breath, he changed quickly and joined her in the hallway. Julian took a quick glance at Adelie, her black hair was down in soft waves and she wore a simple outfit. If it wasn't for the mate bond Julian wouldn't have thought much of it, but the slight hint at her mid-drift was like a shining beacon at the top of a lighthouse in a bad storm. He wanted nothing more than to push his lips into her stomach and trail either up or down. Both were good directions.

All of that snapped into focus when Julian noticed Adelie had two small curved weapons hanging from her waist and was eyeing him suspiciously.

"I thought this was just a tour?" Julian stood straighter, reminding himself he was her counterpart and would soon be her sole caretaker, a very important title he learned from the one book he managed to get through.

"The underbelly is dangerous, plus I don't use the Kama. It helps keep unfavorable away though." Julian nodded, following her down from the tower they shared and out of the cathedral. Not before a wiry blond girl bowed deeply to Adelie and told her to be on her best behavior.

"f**k off Lenorra.." Adelie hissed, slamming the front cathedral doors open. "So Julian, this is Heliotrope, it's home base." Adelie began the tour and she actually took it rather seriously.

Julian and Adelie walked the streets for about a mile. Adelie pointed out local shops and made comments about the usual spots for supernaturals that would need to be kept in line.

"I was wondering, why here? Wouldn't it be easier to be in a more remote location?" Julian asked. Adelie considered his question and smiled to herself.

"Heliotrope is where I fell, actually where I fell turned into the dam which supported Heliotropes growth through a long time. You could say I began the city. So I feel rather attached." Adelie laughed to herself, and Julian couldn't help but smile at her laugh. It sounded like soft bells in a bell line or the feeling of peace when listening to the birds outside on a warm day.

Adelie stopped before a subway entrance, her demeanor turning back to the cold Adelie I'd known for the past 24 hours.

"Down there begins the east side of the Underbelly. The first rule is, you don't stop anyone from coming and going. That isn't our job. Our job is to observe, to balance out the world, we do not intervene." Adelie said the last word sternly, holding my gaze like I imagine a teacher does to students who they know will mess around on a field trip.

"I will not intervene...I am here to aid you. I will not cause trouble." Julian however, did not realize what he had just promised.

Adelie POV

After leaving the cathedral, an odd sense of strength and peace settled over her. She ignored Julian the best she could and took the tour seriously. Mostly to keep her mind off of the fact every fiber of her being wanted to f**k Julian with or without his permission. However, Adelie was pretty sure he wouldn't argue.

Arriving at the Underbelly always reminded Adelie she was a ghost to the world, the watcher, and then felt irritated she'd have to walk a newbie through it. The Underbelly wasn't necessarily bad. It protected many supernaturals, keeping them safe and giving them a home that felt as close to their natural home as possible. However, that doesn't keep the Underbelly from hosting its fair share of illegal things, immoral and downright evil things. Here, Adelie usually got her Intel and, on occasion a good meal or weapon. Think of it as a night market in Japan, the red light district, or the black market all melded into one. Heliotrope was situated in an odd place between the borders of Russia and Asia. It was a peaceful city, its summers were brief and hot and its winters brutal. The humans who were here were a close-knit family even though the city was large. The supernaturals here were usually outcasts. Heliotrope wasn't anywhere near the closet Packland so werewolves there were usually rouges and not all got used to that fact. Vampires were the largest species of the city next to Fae, then lastly, Demons. It wasn't that Heliotrope was a bad place, it was the opposite. It was not often Adelie dealt with balance issues in her city. Everything was kept in balance.

Walking down the stairs into the Underbelly, she could feel the air become colder but the noise became louder. Julian gasped next to her when we got to the bottom step, looking at the beautiful lights of the Underbelly. People everywhere were running around, selling goods, and seeing friends. They were either glamoured or in their full form and no one cared. If there were humans here of their free will, they usually had a foot inched into the Supernatural world either by blood, friend, or relationship. Julian seemed impressed, he was enjoying the moment.

Adelie kept her eyes forward, watching as people recognized her. Some were part of the Cathedral Morte holding up red crosses and hissing at people not to look me in the eyes. Adelie kept her wings off the ground as much as possible, holding them close to her body. It was an odd sensation to have one's wings touched, so crowds were not her favorite.

"Do they know you?" Julian asked, leaning down some to hear my answer. God was he tall. His white hair was down and he had a shadow of facial hair showing.

"I wouldn't say that, some of the beings here have been around a long time knowing what I do and they respect me for it but fear me too. Some hear rumors. The ones who are a part of the Cathedral Morte know me most, it is in their scripture that they must protect the Reaper and enforce it as well." Adelie rolled her eyes at that, "Malcolm set it up one of the years I was gone a long time. I came back to an old woman crying at my feet, begging for my mercy."

Julian stood straighter and closer to Adelie, "What was the reason for it though? What is Malcolm's game?" Adelie didn't like his tone. Malcolm had always done what was best for Adelie and she assumed it was all for a reason. A piece of Adelie hissed at her for being so ignorant.

"I don't ask questions...I never get the answers anyways.." Adelie said, almost to herself. Ah yes, make your blissful ignorance okay because of a dumb excuse.

As they walked deeper in, the stalls got more space and they came upon humans getting high off of a mass vampire feeding. The vampires hissed at them as they walked past, making Julian growl back. Adelie simply kept walking. If you were an animal and something came past you while feeding, you'd probably hiss too.

"What about the humans?" Julian seemed to be bouncing now after seeing the vampires, like a kickboxer ready to get into a match.

"Remember, you are not a werewolf here. You are the one who takes life to allow other life to flourish." Julian bit his lip and nodded, seeming to understand, but it was hard to fight what you were.

"You see, a Reaper happens right at Manifestation when their body chooses their visible age and their weapon comes to be to show what they will be doing to help the Angel community." Adelie put her hand on his arm, making him give her his full attention. "You became a reaper so to speak with a full cup, now you must empty it and leave it empty."

Julian POV

Empty? Julian didn't quite get it, he was still reeling from the vampire blood fest they had just walked past. Only now, we have to ignore the Fae selling humans, some of them babies.

"We cannot do anything?" Julian whimpered, unsure how to react or feel his head pounding.

"No, this was meant to happen. If we saved those humans, returned the babies, we'd have to take the Changelings to, then the Changelings would die and the species harmed." Adelie stated, making eye contact with one of the spindly male Fae's who blew her a kiss.

"I mean, do they deserve to live?" Adelie giggled, but it wasn't because Julian was humorous. It was because Julian was a child.

"Many could say the same about Werewolves, but you are many, are you not? Changelings have a purpose just as you do. A Reaper only intervenes when someone is going too far and will affect the balance."

Julian sighed, taking long strides towards hopefully the way out of this place.

It wasn't.

Julian walked right into a large room that was shaped like a Hexagon with many hallways to take. At the center was a large fountain. The fountain was carved out of marble, and at the center of all the Supernaturals, either fighting or having s*x, was a small girl with wings.

"I wish they'd get rid of this..." Julian finally noticed the fountain was the same design as the Library doors.

"Who made these?" Julian asked, touching the smooth marble, feeling calmed by the trickling of the water.

"An artisan, and my Caretaker before Malcolm. His name was Lou, or my name for him anyway. He liked creating sculptures that took far too long to figure out and even when you did it was still a beautiful mess." Adelie rolled her shoulders, then stretched. "I don't usually walk this much ya know..."

"Did he...feel the same way Malcolm did?" Julian didn't know why he needed to ask, his mate bond was irritated so many had known her before him.

"Mm, no, he was assigned by Rapheal. He was not cruel, but he knew what his job was and, as another Angel, he knew what my position meant to other Angels and kept it professional." Julian looked at Adelie's small angular face, her green eyes were dull for a moment as she sat down on the edge of the fountain picking at her jeans.

"So my question to you is, what did you do to become a rouge?" Adelie eyed him, waiting for a reply. She wanted to know more but also didn't. The Caretaker always started out attentive, like a friend, and even though Malcolm had always cared for her, at some point his feelings changed and a wall was brought up. Julian seemed bothered by the question, making Adelie mentally kick herself. She had forgotten Werewolves were very particular about their pack lives.

"I was a beta actually..." Julian began. Adelie listened to him earnestly. Someone was answering her question....HER question. "I loved my pack. My best friend is Alpha. His name is Tulio. You see...something happened, all I can really tell you is I didn't murder anyone. My Father was killed though, and then other things came to light. So I asked to be a Rouge." Adelie huffed, he didn't tell her everything, but I guess it was a start.

"What's wrong?" Adelie looked up again to meet him eye to eye, he was crouched down and was looking deeply into her eyes. "I didn't mean to upset you...Adelie, I want this to work. I am serious about my position. I'm not sure what it all entails just yet, I have a lot of reading to do. I know this is strange for you, but when I was approached by the Angels to take his position I also had a dream of the Moon Goddess telling me...I needed to be here." Julian's eyes wavered, telling Adelie he was hiding something or lying. Before she blew up though, her hand reached out and cupped his cheek, startling them both.

Heat rose into Adelie's cheeks, and instead of holding she shrieked slapping him across the face.

"Wh-wh....We need to go!" Adelie yelled, stomping towards the little door between two of the hallways leading back into different parts of the Underbelly. Julian was on his ass don't the cold floor, holding his face and...grinning.

"I think we will be good friends, Adelie!" Adelie blushed more like that was even possible. Turning quickly, she pulled open the door and ran up the stairs into the cold night air.

Outside, Adelie wanted nothing more than to fly away but she was reminded of the man tagging along as he came up behind her and bonked her head.

"What the f**k?" Adelie growled, moving away from him.

"What? You slapped me." Julian gave Adelie what she could only describe as puppy dog eyes.

"You..." Adelie had nothing, no rebuttal, no nasty remark just..blush. Julian's eyes began to glow red and his demeanor seemed to shift to confident and cocky.

" You are rather flustered..." Julian's voice was deep as he walked towards her, causing Adelie to step back. Julian continued to step towards her till her back was flushed with the cold brick, her wings having to stretch out to allow space. "You are quite beautiful Adelie..."

Although Adelie isn't a virgin, she has never been very good at flirting and Julian caused her body to shiver in delight at just his breathing.

"Julian..." Adelie half-heartedly begged and Julian leaned down, brushing his lips against her neck. Then, his knuckles brushed her feathers, making her heart race and her mind grow hazy. "Don't touch my wings..."

"Oh? And why not?" Julian's deep voice vibrated into her skin as he playfully bit at the dip in her neck before it became her shoulder.

Suddenly, Julian's whole hand was gripping her waist and his mouth was against hers. She moaned into his mouth as he snaked his other hand around her back, pushing her against him. Julian seemed to be drinking her in, not even bothering to come up for air.

Just before passing out, A hand gripped Julian's neck and pulled him away slamming him into the cold damp ground of the city.

"I said to watch yourself pup..." Reese stood over Julian, his foot on his chest with a murderous air around him. Adelie looked at Reese, then at the entrance of the alleyway, making eye contact with Lenorra and Paige. Reese was seething, but Lenorra was an ice queen strutting over to Adelie and looking her over.

"I am glad you are unharmed, My Lady. We grew worried about your endurance when you had not returned...I know you enjoy taking the easier way by flying." Lenorra continued to look her over why Reese directed a punch to Julian's face. Adelie seemed to feel the impact of that punch, making her wince. "My lady?"

"Oooh, now this is interesting...I have come back from a short business trip to China only to find my Adelie being fondled by none other than the Alpha of the WoodGrove pack." Adelie eye'd Paige, who gave Adelie a true smile. I wouldn't called Paige a friend of Adelie's since she was usually kept away from Heliotrope by Malcolm.

"He said he was a Beta...." Adelie said mostly to herself as Lenora guides her out of the ally by her shoulders.

"Oh sweets, you are older than all of us, but god...you are dumb." Paige smiled sadly, bringing me into a hug. Lenorra hissed at Paige who stuck her tongue out at her. "I have missed you my little death, we will talk soon."

"Why not now?" Adelie asked, only to be met by the angry wrinkled face of Malcolm standing next to the other car the Cathdral Morte owned. A simple black car SUV.

"Get in the car...My Lady." Malcolm never called Adelie that. Adelie was put into the backseat as Reese dragged Julian to the trunk squeezing his large body into it. The punch must of knocked him out.

"Malcolm, I don't-"

"-I am still your caretaker as of now, I am allowed to come find you." Adelie huffed, giving Paige an accusatory look.

"It is my duty, Adelie." Paige smiled.

"Can't you be bad at it? You Witch..."

Paige laughed loudly, holding her chest, "Oh my sweet girl, I cannot fight who I am any more than you can. I wouldn't want to though. I will always find out Adelie whether you want me to or not." There was s threat to those words, making Adelie close her mouth for once. Paige was friendly and gave better vibes than Lenorra but she had trouble dealing with..magic.

Back at the Cathedral, Julian was placed in his room and Adelie was walked to the kitchens.

"Eat..." Malcolm demanded. Adelie obliged, not sure what she did wrong exactly.

"Malcolm, I can leave whenever I wish to, you cannot hold me here!" Adelie screamed, knowing my eyes glowed a warm white and my wings extended out.

"Do you think I wish to do this?" Malcolm met Adelie's anger, causing her to almost back down. "There is something..going on here Adelie. Something far more than the usual Rapheal s**t!"

Adelie couldn't take it, she gripped the table and tossed it aside, stomping up to Malcolm and grabbing his shirt. She didn't get there though. Reese had her in a hold, pinning her arm behind her and an arm wrapped around her neck.

"Reese..." Reese grinned, leaning close to sniff her hair. Malcolm gave Reese a warning look and sighed.

"You need to calm down, Adelie, we don't need more on your grounded sentence. You have just a bit longer to go... " Reese yanked Adelie off the ground, tossing her over his shoulders. Adelie couldn't help the tears coming forth as she kept eye contact with Malcolm whose face was the reflection of guilt.

Reese didn't try anything more, simply placed her down in her room and kissed her forehead. "If you wanted me to choke you so badly, I would've been happy to." Then he left.

Malcolm POV (during the tour)

Malcolm's bones ached as he waited for his phone to ring. Opal brought him a hot tea but it went cold and untouched on the table.

"I'm home!" Paige's voice rang through the strong hallways, making Malcolm groan. Paige was his oddest pupil, she was full of potential but..she was odd. Paige popped in and hugged him, smelling of cigarettes. "Hello, old man!"

"Paige, f**k off..." Malcolm shoved her off just as his phone finally rang. At the other end was a man's voice, and Malcolm let him speak.

"I looked into the boy for you, seems he's from pretty far away but, recently visited a pack in the redwoods of Oregon." Malcolm leaned into the phone, that was the last place Adelie had her mission. "Issues were happening there between a pack and Vampires, the usual stuff, but this time the Vampires prevailed causing a practical g******e. Not sure why your man was there though, just that he flew there a week before the event."

Malcom huffed, "Got anything more? I need more information, Quinn."

"I know boss, I'm trying here." Malcolm nodded, knowing Quinn was indeed trying to dig up what he could.

"This Julian dude was a beta, but then became the Alpha of WoodGrove. It's a rather prominent pack in the Eastern United States. They even have branch packs in Canada and Alaska." Quinn stated, sounding like he was shuffling papers around. "I'll send you what I found. I hope our little bird is alright..."

"Don't worry about that...I may not be here, but she will always be protected..." Malcolm hung up the phone to finally realize the time. "Paige!" Malcolm yelled, Paige popped in, giving him a wicked smile.

"Time to find Adelie?" Paige grinned, although Malcolm trained them all to do a very important job, he may have been too hasty in WHO he chose. When Malcolm was 30 and Adelie was off on a long-haul assignment, he managed to get his hands on information on the inner workings of Repheal's beloved High Court. Knowing what he knew, he set off to protect Adelie even in death. Because death would come, and he would greet her like an old lover.