Reaper Mine: A Reaper Novel

by Palmer, Christie

  She wasn’t about to willingly go into a room of iron, she could be trapped in there.

  Kyra opened the door and showed her the room; it was well lit lined with rows and rows of bookshelves as far as the eye could see. The actual size of the room was undetermined because it was so large and packed with so much stuff Elle couldn’t see where it ended. Tables cluttered with items, pots, and books and so many different items she couldn’t begin to put names to them.

  It looked like a treasure trove of old and new things. But she still wasn’t setting foot in there. An old woman, with salt and pepper hair hanging to her waist, walked around a corner. A book in one hand and a smoking pot of incense in the other.

  Elle felt a little dizzy looking at her. She tried not to prejudge the Druid, but couldn't help it. The last powerful Druid she had had contact with, cursed her. Elle could feel the power practically radiating off this woman. She took a few steps back. “Ah there she is,” Kyra said stepping into the room. “Fiona I have brought Elle to meet you.”

  Fiona looked up with soft brown eyes. She smiled at Elle. It reminded her of a warm fire and comforted her immediately. Which Elle thought was odd. Then it struck her. She had a spell of some kind to make her feel comfortable. It irritated her and put her on edge. Which was at odds with how comforted she felt at the same time.

  “Please come in, come in. I am so happy to see you up and moving around. I was very worried about you,” Fiona said putting down the book and pot she was holding.

  Elle moved to the doorway but still didn’t cross the threshold. “I’m not sure I want to.”

  Fiona laughed quietly. “Oh I totally understand. It being iron and all, but I can assure you the wards on this room are against darkness only and it bars it from entering.” She smiled and beckoned Elle in.

  “Uh… You do realize a dark Druid cursed me right?” she asked. “Are you sure the wards against the darkness won’t attack me on that level? I mean what is it supposed to do against darkness?”

  “Render it lifeless of course.” Fiona said it as if she was giving her an update on the weather.

  “Yeah I’ve already died twice this week. Can we go upstairs?” Elle asked stepping away from the door.

  Fiona nodded. “You do have a point,” Fiona said moving toward the door. “However, I would love to try it out.”

  Elle shook her head. “Maybe another day.”

  Fiona took her arm as she moved through the door. “Of course. Let’s go upstairs and have a cup of tea.”

  Kyra followed behind her. “Don’t let her kindness fool you. She’s a shark.”

  Elle stumbled at Kyra’s words, but Fiona patted her arm. “Don’t let Kyra worry you. I’m a lamb, she just thinks that because I helped to train her.”

  Kyra laughed. “That and she has threatened to turn me into a frog.”

  Elle couldn’t stop herself from laughing. Druids were many things but workers for magic like that they were not. “That I would like to see.”

  “I’m sure I could find something in a book somewhere,” Fiona said as they made their way into a large living room.

  “I’ll go get the tea,” Kyra offered.

  Fiona sat in an overstuffed chair and motioned for Elle to take another chair close to her. Elle looked at the window. “Shouldn’t we be out fighting those things?”

  Fiona shook her head. “No. The brothers are probably having the time of their lives out there, killing the beasts at the gates. They may bluster and complain but they live for this type of thing.”

  “There will just be more were they came from,” Elle said sadly. It broke her heart. The last thing she wanted, was to think more and more monster would appear and one of them might get hurt.

  Her feelings must have been written on her face. “Don’t worry about them. They fight like a well-oiled machine when they are together. Why don’t you tell me how you got cursed?”

  Elle chewed her bottom lip, she hadn’t talked about it for so long. Had kept everything about her curse locked down so tight she was almost afraid to talk about it.

  “Is talking about it hard?” Fiona asked.

  Elle laughed a little. “I have forced myself to not talk about it so long it feels weird to do so.”

  Fiona nodded and leaned back looking like she had all the time in the world.

  Elle sorted through her memories. “It was so long ago,” she started. “Back when the world was such a different place, when the Gods had rule over a landscape, fought for their lands and their people.”

  “When I was brought into being during the great reign of the Gods, when Atlantis was still new and the Gods played at being Gods, I was one of many demi-gods; hundreds tossed among the mortals as play things.” She shivered. “I was able to control emotions, I banded with Helena who deified the gods and mortals because of her beauty, with Chaos and Tiffany for her golden hair. And Others, so many Others. We thought ourselves above the laws of man.” Elle stopped to wipe tears from her face, she didn’t realize she still held so much emotion over the situation, she hadn’t thought of Tiffany and the others for so long.

  “We were cursed originally by the Gods because we felt we were not as strong as the gods themselves and cursed to roam the mortal plane. When the mortals realized the Gods had abandoned us, and realized they could harness our gifts for their own means we became a plague to ourselves. The Gods hunted use. Destroying us, before we became a weapon against them. The mortals and Others hunted us to use against the Gods.” She shivered. “I was caught in a war, when a Dark Druid found me and cursed me.”

  This was the part she dreaded, and she thanked the Gods when Kyra interrupted by bringing in a tray of tea. She poured it for the three of them. Elle went to pick up her tea, but her hands shook so much she nearly spilled the tea all over herself. She put the tea down and smiled at the two women, taking several deep breaths.

  Fiona asked her to continue her story. Elle looked at her, dreading what was to come. “Please understand I am not proud of who I was then. The demi-gods then and some now are selfish and horrible creatures. This is not who I am now, I have learned so much since then.” She would pay for the rest of her existence for what had transpired then. And it made her sick to think of what happened.

  Fiona gently patted her hand. “We understand things might have been done different then.

  Elle shook her head. “No. You don’t understand,” she said. “I was cursed for a reason. When it came down to a push and shove situation, I sacrificed mortals, to save myself.” Kyra jumped up. Elle wouldn’t blame her if she threw her out of her house. Fiona gave Kyra a pointed look.

  “Let her explain. “Fiona said.

  “How many?” Kyra asked.

  Elle was breathing heavy, and her hands were fisted in her lap. And lights were flashing in her vision. “It was a contingent of soldiers. About eighty men. They had been sent by a lord who thought to imprison me and my brothers and sisters. They were simple soldiers hired by a petty lord who just wanted to control the demi-gods.”

  “And what of your brothers and sisters?” Kyra asked roughly. “Why did none of them dirty their hands?”

  Elle looked at Kyra. “Chaos…” Elle started. “He… usually helped me. Only he had already been caught years before. The others abilities had lain in other directions. But, in using ones emotions, I had the ability to turn them against each other. So, it was up to me to keep the group safe. So when they moved in to attack…I turned them against one another.”

  It had been an ambush. Absolutely no warning. Taken completely by surprise, Elle hadn't thought, she had just reacted. Before she knew it, the men had turned on themselves and killed one other. She had just stood there, in the early morning light, while her brothers and sisters had stood watching the fighting. Cheering them on, until no one remained. It had made her sick. She had stumbled into the bushes and thrown up.

  Helena had pulled her out of the bushes and hugged her telling her how wonderful she was. But Elle hadn’
t felt wonderful, and all the power she had over the mortals felt like a burden for the first time in her life. And she understood why the gods had abandoned them from the heavens. However, none of them expected the flurry from the dark druid, who swept through their camp as dusk.

  “We should have left, but we were cocky demi-gods,” Elle said shaking her head. “We won the battle. We thought we had at least a couple of day’s grace. She showed up that night as soon as the sun set, right at twilight.”

  “Did she give you her name?” Fiona asked in a whisper.

  “No,” Elle whispered back. “One moment, I was sitting before the fire. The next, the fire was banked and I was floating above it. My brothers and sisters scattered, like leaves in the wind. I have never seen a power like hers before or since.”

  Fiona sucked in a ragged breath. “I was stripped of my clothes, as the woman threw back her cloak. I only knew she was a druid by the markings on her exposed skin. Her eyes were black as pitch and her hair was white and hung nearly to the dirt. She pulled a dirk from her waist and sliced at both my wrists, and my ankles. Then she collected my blood and used it to painted symbols on my skin. The entire time she chanted in an old language even the gods did not understand. Then she took a burning stick from the fire and drew symbols in the dirt. The entire time my body was suspended over the fire. My siblings fought against an inviable wall she had constructed around the fire and the two of us. When she was done she looked at me, her eyes black. And spoke, “Today you killed without remorse without thought. You used your infinite power to kill innocence. You cared not who you erased from this plane. Mortals that had families, not in league with the filthy lords you are at war with. Only simple men, soldiers for hire. You killed without thinking.” She screeched. “Now you will live the life of a mortal, the mortals you take for granted. And die as a mortal will. I turn your emotions back on you. Feel that which you have forced on others without remorse. Die the death of the mortal loop.”

  Fiona visibly shivered. “You really pissed someone off.”

  “Yes.” Elle wrapped her arms around herself and swallowed past the lump in her throat and shivered. And wondered how many more times she would die and hear those words echoing in her head?

  She had crashed to the ground then. The crazed druid then grabbed her by the head, still smiling and slashed her throat. Elle had bled out and died for the first time. Each and every time she died, it was the last one she experienced before she came back. So when she did come back, it was the freshest in her mind. Those black eyes, held so much hatred and knowledge she would never in any amount of life times be able to correct that wrong. Those lives she had taken that night. She would never be able to redeem for the souls lost on that night.

  It was what had separated her brothers and sisters, what had been the downfall of them all. Why they had ultimately been scattered to the four winds. Why she was now alone in the world. And now she was being hunted by gods only knew what?

  “I had hoped by hearing what had happened there might be a way to turn this curse around but it was imprinted in blood and fire,” Fiona said shaking her head.

  “Meaning nearly unbreakable,” Kyra said shaking her head.

  “At least you said nearly,” Elle said with a sad laugh.

  Fiona gave her a sad smile. “Yes, she could have frozen it into you after it was done. And then it would be unbreakable.”

  “No I haven’t had anything frozen into me before,” Elle said.

  “Well then let’s worry about the other problem,” Fiona said standing.

  “Getting your strength back.” Fiona said, giving her a gentle smile.

  Elle grimaced. “You aren’t going to make me drink more of that horrible tonic are you?”

  Fiona chuckled, “No of course not. But I will tell you that drinking it will help heal. When you die, the only thing bringing you back is your demi-god heritage. And it goes into over-drive to bring you back. The tonic I gave you should help you recover faster. But you really should get more in touch with your demi-god side.”

  Elle had no idea what Fiona was a talking about, and it must have showed on her face, because, Fiona shook her head. “Don’t you remember what it felt like to be a demi-god Elle?”

  Elle shook her head. “No, it’s been so long. And the thought of being a demi-god again makes my stomach hurt.”

  Fiona reached forward and patted her hand, “Well, you need to get in touch with your demi-god side again it’s dormant but the stronger it is the healthier you will become.”

  “I’m pretty sure the dark druid killed the demi-god in me.” Elle said.

  Fiona shook her head, “You will always be a demi-god Elle. Nothing can take that away from you. No spell can change that, it’s still inside of you. It’s what brings you back each time you die. So it’s there.”

  Elle wasn’t so sure.

  “It’s something to think about.” Fiona said with utter assurance. “But why don’t we think about something else.”

  Elle snorted. “And that would be?”

  “Why, the Freaks at the gate of course.”

  Elle moaned, she and flung herself back in her chair covering her face with her hands. Fiona and Kyra both laughed.

  “Isn’t there any good news?” she muttered.

  “Afraid not.” Kyra laughed.

  Chapter 7

  “There doesn’t seem to be any new information,” Dante said, steepeling his fingers under his chin.

  Victor shrugged. “More questions than answers.”

  “Christian.” Dante motioned to Victor’s brother who was standing back, Christian now stepped forward. “I want to study them, bring me several and put them in the catacombs. Take whoever you need.”

  Christian smiled and nodded at Victor before disappearing. “Do you think bringing those things here is a good idea?”

  “Who is behind the attempts on the demi-god?” Dante asked ignoring Victor’s question.

  “He calls himself Aldon,” was the only thing Victor had to offer.

  “What species is he?” Dante demanded.

  “Unknown.” And driving Victor batshit.

  “Do you have any information that is helpful?” Dante asked. Victor could see a vein throb in Dante’s temple and knew his father was far more irritated then he let on. Victor would be better off treading very carefully.

  “I apologize, father. However, there is no information at the moment. I am working with the Trackers to get answers.”

  Dante flew from his chair sending the large heavy throne soaring back into the recesses of the room. “The Trackers? Those would be the Species that hate us correct?” he bellowed.

  Victor held his ground. “Yes, however, they hate us less than a significant number of other creatures. I trust them to keep Elle safe.”

  “Elle, is it?” Dante asked his voice dropping to a deceptively quiet tone.

  This time Victor’s ire was pricked. “What would you have me call her, Dante?”

  “I care very little for her safety, what I care about is what the Tribunal is doing,” Dante said obviously irritated with Victor. “Don’t get overly involved with the female. There is a war brewing and I need you to be prepared to fight. Will she be a problem?”

  A cold chill wrapped around Victor’s spine. “No.”

  Dante watched him closely. “She is not our problem, Victor. Nor is she one of use. Do not forget, were your loyalties lie. She may have used the Blood Call, but you didn't Blood Rite it. No matter what you tell her.”

  Victor swallowed past the argument he wanted to scream at Dante. He needed to go back to the cemetery and add his blood to hers. It was the only way he could tie Elle to him permanently. Turn her call from just a ‘call’ into the soul claiming he claimed had already happened. The moment Dante released him he was going to do just that. He couldn’t afford to lose her now.

  Victor nodded to Dante’s words but held his tongue not sure if he was able to speak at the moment. Elle was his responsibility
no matter what Dante said. Dante had made her his responsibility when he had sent him to her and Victor wasn’t about to walk away from her.

  “Find out who Aldon is, and who is controlling him. I am sure it is the Tribunal. As soon as you have the information we can destroy him,” Dante said without feeling.

  “What about Elle?” Victor asked.

  Dante looked at Victor. “Does it matter?”

  “Yes.” The word slipped out before Victor could stop it.

  “Why?”

  “She is alone, Dante.” Victor couldn’t help tell him.

  “She is a cursed demi-god. She will remain a cursed demi-god, and not our problem. Don’t let her get to you.” Dante moved down his dais, and toward Victor. “In all your life, I have never seen this type of weakness in you before.”

  Victor fisted his hands. “And what weakness is that Dante?”

  “Your angel side,” Dante said quietly. “Don’t force my hand Victor. Don’t make her the problem, she is a means to an end. Find out why the Tribunal is using her, who and what Aldon is. And then walk away.”

  “She is more than just a means to an end, Dante,” Victor argued.

  Dante backhanded him, sending Victor skidding across the floor and slamming against the solid stone wall. Dante was there to grab him by the shirt front. He pulled him up and slammed him against the wall, rattling Victor from head to toe.

  “Don’t be an idiot.” He slammed him against the wall again, making Victor see stars. “She is a female, and not one of us. There is a war starting and you are thinking with your cock? We are still down a Reaper, and you are worried about a cursed demi-god?” he asked his voice dropping to a near whisper. “They were hunted down, and sent into hiding or wiped off the mortal plane for a reason.”

  He dropped Victor, who spat out blood and wiped it away with the back of his hand. "Get out of my sight!" Dante spat. Victor pulled himself up and rolled his shoulders. “Pull your head out of your ass, Victor.” Dante said, as Victor walked away.