I heard the quiet steps of a small being approaching me from behind. I could easily tell who it was from the scent.
“Is everything okay, Denise?” I asked without turning to look at her.
“I… can feel my body getting warmer… and I don’t know what is happening, master.” she said hesitantly as she made her way towards me. I turned and looked over her quickly. The woman’s white, long hair was turning darker and shorter. Her frame has already shrunk considerably, and she was visibly shivering. Her skin was also starting to look more pinkish than it’s ever been, and her features were softer. I smiled.
“I’ve decided to let you live.”
“This is- Why did you do this? Do you have an idea what’s going to happen when the news are out?.. And my body, I don’t think I can survive this. I feel so much weaker!” She half-yelled, clearly angry but still sounding very confused and drained from all the sudden changes her body was undergoing.
“You need to get used to it. This is how living feels.”
“I can’t… Let’s stop this. Look, I forgave you for taking Evan. You don’t need to do this. I know you can stop this, please-“
“No. I won’t let anything stop this. It has cost me more than I could afford to lose, and now we’re here. Why do you not want it?”
“But-“
“You’re finally becoming human. Isn’t that what you kept asking for? Do you not want to survive, and be with Luna and Lin?”
“But Death, I don’t want-“
“I. don’t want to hear you,” I stated firmly, deciding to raise my voice to intimidate her. She went completely silent and looked at her own feet.
“Moments from now, you will never be able to see me again, so you better also forget all about the underworld and the elders. This is now my problem to deal with, and This is also your new beginning, Denise. Here, you don’t exist any more. I’ll leave you in the Taiga and others will find you. Please find your children and be with them.”
With that, I snapped my fingers, and she vanished.
-.-.-
I opened my eyes, finally becoming conscious, and once again getting away from all the ghosts trying to hunt me down in the Limbo. I couldn’t remember what knocked me unconscious, but I could kind of guess that I’ve been captured. Also, there was so much light everywhere, more light than I’ve seen in years, so there was no mistaking it.
Ah, The sounds, the scents, and the silhouettes I hated with passion. The higherwolrd; The elders have summoned me.
There they sat up high as usual. Ancient and ironically, mean, as usual- At least to me and the likes.
It didn’t take me long to realize that I was chained to the ground.
“Seems like he’s finally awake, huh. Who knew he’d be as much of a sleeper as the mortals he’s saving.” one of the booming voices teased from above. “Let’s begin.”
I heard three loud thuds, and it was suddenly completely quiet. The same voice went on.
“Today we’re here to decide the fate of the fifth grim reaper, condemned Archangel Augustus, also known as Death, for committing the horrible crime of protecting a criminal, and mortalizing a creature from the underworld.”
“This case is concerning a Succubus named Denise, who has started a long relationship and had two children with a mortal, clearly violating the laws of the higherworld.”
“The accused’s task as a reaper was to take the human and his children, and as a ruler of the underworld, to send off his hellhounds to find and turn in the succubus to receive her punishment. However, he has only taken the human. He then has hidden the children, and went on protecting their mother until he has finally committed the worst of his crimes, and gave her a piece of his soul to mortalize her as a means of protection from the consequences of her horrible actions. He is today presented with his limbs confined by chains of shame, to receive his punishment from the elders.” He finished, and it was completely quiet for about three seconds.
“Augustus, how can you defend yourself in front of the elders today?” another voice asked.
“I do not need to defend myself, for the only shame here is yours.”
My statement earned me the strongest dirty looks that have ever been given. I decided to go on being rude to them since I was ruined anyways. It felt like the day.
“The people of the underworld deserve to have families. Denise did nothing wrong. If an Archangel did this, according to your laws, they wouldn’t be questioned.” they were silent so I went on. “And, I regret murdering her lover because he knew she was a succubus. Now, free me so I can go on being actually useful. The souls are not going to reap themselves.”
“How dare you!”
“Disgrace!”
“Trap him in the Limbo!”
“Shame on you!” One of the elders got up and held up his wings as he glared at me, but I just knew that he wasn’t going to attack me. I was more powerful than each one of them, and they knew it.
“And so, the people of the underworld cannot have families with each other instead? Do you need a reminder of the reason why you were thrown out, Augustus? It is not wise to make such dangerous… statements here, as it might cost you your role as one of the underworld’s rulers, and this just, might be the last role you could lose, you see.” Jeremiah, the youngest of them all, said smugly.
I could tell he was trying to get me angry by hinting at my sin; the reason why he became an elder so early, and the reason I was condemned to fall. I clenched my fists, and that was when I noticed that they have so foolishly used chains made of light and not shame as they had claimed.
Of course, light was ironically the cheapest and the most abundant in the higherworld, and shame was something those of they had very little of. Too little that they couldn’t just waste it on making chains for their small court that was held every few moments.
I knew I could easily teleport, now. However, I decided not to show anything and wait for the right moment to take them off guard.
“I am only being honest.” I gave him my bitterest tone, trying my best not to show my anger and satisfy him.
“I thought you have learned the difference between being honest and being outright obnoxious after your obnoxiousness has costed you this much, Augustus.”
“If there’s anything obnoxious it is this place.” I said before I made my escape and easily teleported back to my castle, leaving a cloud of smoke and a pile of useless chains behind.
-.-.-
“Lucas!” I called as soon as I arrived in the castle. The demon appeared within seconds, looking sort of afraid since he could probably sense my anger. I spoke, and with every word I could feel my smile grow bigger, and see the demon’s face grow more terrified.
“Bring lucifer and ask him to bring his key to the Sun, and gather the demons and the hounds. Tell everyone I ask that they leave whatever they’re doing for this, and bring the other four reapers, too. Tell them we’re having a feast, an then a meeting. Tell them it’s the most important meeting.”
-.-.-
SingulariT 