However apologetic he was, I could sense a trace of humor in the voice. I managed a weak smile in return. This experience was new, but I had a feeling I could get used to it.
“Well, I suppose coming into a protected house without anyone knowing might be the reason.” I bent down and checked my mother. She was breathing peacefully. I walked over to Helen and placed my face close to hers. She too was breathing regularly. No harm, no foul. At most, they would have a bit of a headache when they came to.
I came to join you, but I see my arrival caused a bit of a scare.
Now he sounded morose. I understood his tone; he had no intentions of frightening my mother or Helen.
“If I knew who you were, I might understand a little more about what you’re doing here,” I said cautiously. It felt weird speaking aloud but only getting telepathic answers.
I do apologize. I am Death.
I gaped as he reached for the hood covering his face. He pulled it away, and I had to catch my breath. I had always thought that Death was a skeleton covered by linen. But he had pale skin, solid black eyes, and lips sewn up in two black Xs. Even if he wanted to speak, there was no way that he could, unless he tore his own lips apart. Just thinking about it made my lips tingle.
Do you fear me?
To my astonishment, I found I didn’t. I was more intrigued than afraid. He was nothing like I was expecting. You grew up with fearful thoughts about the Grim Reaper, but once in his presence, I found him something to be marveled at.
“Are you the Death?” I asked, curiosity driving away any terror that I might have felt.
No, I am just one of many of my kind.
“Are you pure or mixed?” I asked. I felt like I needed to know before I welcomed him in.
None of my kind is pure. We are given a choice if we are worthy. If we choose to become Death, we just become it.
Well, his explanation didn’t help me much. If a mortal had made a choice, then I supposed that might be considered pure. If Death could not procreate with other members of the same clan, there could never be a pure being different than the original. I bet he was extremely frightening. I shivered at the thought.
“You are a reaper then,” I whispered, mesmerized.
He bowed to me. His face showed no emotion, but then how could Death show sentiment?
I am, yes. Reapers are Death.
“So why did my mother and Helen faint the moment they saw you?” I asked, wondering if it was his appearance that had gotten to them. Then again, I dressed in a similar fashion, and my mother had never fainted at the sight of me. Well, there was that one time, I chuckled to myself.
Your mother knows me, but she misunderstood, wouldn’t listen to what I had to say.
“How does my mother know you?” I looked down at her and sighed; she seemed extremely uncomfortable.
I am the one who brought her souls to judge. I am connected directly to your mother’s past. Not to mention the belief that once Death appears someone is going to die.
“Is someone going to die?” I asked, frowning. I would have hated to find out that this was the reason for his unexpected visit. However, he had said that he wanted to join us. Maybe he needed souls to survive? I’m sure that his explanation was going to be rational enough.
Lots of people are going to die, even more, if you don’t get your third above ground.
What the Hell? How did he know about the resurrection that was to take place? I shook my head and rubbed my temples. All these beings who could see the future were really starting to make my head hurt.
“So, you came to join us? Are there others of your kind?” I asked, closing my eyes. The last thing I needed was another lecture on the importance of Krista being raised.
There are exactly fifty of us who will stand with you. Many of my kind will not, for the pure fact that it means choosing a side. We usually choose to remain neutral during times of war. Reapers benefit from the loss of lives on both sides. Choosing would mean giving up the rights to the other side’s souls. However, if this queen is successful, we will no longer have work and will become extinct.
“Fifty’s pretty good, right?” I asked slowly.
There are thousands of us, so this is a mere drop in the bucket. I would like to say that I can get more, but they will take convincing. We will help you raise your third. We will protect that balance; nothing will come through us without meeting Death.
“Are you serious?” I asked, my heartbeat increasing. I felt like I was going to faint myself.
I never lie. Usually what is given to Death cannot be returned. In this case, however, she was not a reaped soul; she was never taken to her final resting place. This means that we can assist in a resurrection because we are not taking from Death. We are merely taking her from Purgatory.
Helen started to stir as she came to. I could hear her whimpering, which meant she felt pain somewhere.
“I would suggest putting the hood back on,” I suggested, nodding towards Helen. “Can you wait in the kitchen while I talk to them?” I asked.
Death nodded and turned to leave.
“Do you have a name other than Death?” I asked. “If there’s one thing that I have learned over the last year, it is that even when parted from the mortal world; we all have a name.”
I was called Peter once. I would like to be named Peter again.
“Then Peter you shall be,” I said, smiling.
He left the room without responding. I could see it was a challenge understanding the emotions
