by Ali Winters
Something about that last bit of information clicked in his mind. “Yeva said she’d given me the power to be reborn. If that’s true, wouldn’t I be reborn anyway without these trials?”
“No, you see, when she gave you her power, your soul wasn’t yet mortal. There had been no time for it to change as it did for the others. Watchers, like the Reapers, would just cease to exist once destroyed. In giving you the power to be reborn, she seemed to have overdone it a bit and the power leaked out into the others, turning the Watchers into Hunters. She changed the essence of their souls. Though, not all of you make it.”
He all but stopped breathing. “So, this is all my fault?”
Cassandra placed a hand on his arm. “The ability to be reborn is not a bad thing. I think it’s comforting. There’s more waiting for you, not some big void of nothingness.” She shuddered, then spoke in a hushed voice, “Even now, the idea of not existing anymore in some form, scares me.”
“That’s a lot to take in.” He leaned his head back against the cool, glass wall. “Why don’t Reapers get the chance for a second life?”
“That’s way above my pay level.” She shrugged. “But, if I had to guess,” Cassandra chewed on the end of her pen. “I would say because no one stopped to give them that same ability as your Yeva did.”
“Ah,” he said, then closed his mouth and shuddered. He’d destroyed Reapers, and though he had never meant to, he still felt bad. When he first approached Nivian, he could have easily done the same to her. The thought made him sick, churning his stomach to think that she could one day face nonexistence… that he had almost sentenced her to that fate, and he would never have a chance to see her again.
He was dead. That should mean he didn’t have any more worries or ties keeping him tethered to his previous life… and yet, he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He could only hope that one day he would be given the chance to be reborn a Hunter and see her again.
“So, what happens next?”
“Next, I take you to see our fearless leader.”
“And who is that, exactly?”
She gave him a knowing smile, her dark eyes sparkling with secrets and mischief. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Kain couldn’t say he was a fan of that answer, but didn’t think he’d get anything more out of her. Apparently, that was one question she wasn’t required to answer. “What happens after that?”
“My time with you ends when I bring you to…” She smirked. “You know who,” she said, obviously teasing him with the answer she refused to give. “Then, for me at least, I’ll be off to help the next soul. While you two get to have a nice chat and, I’d assume, begin your trials.”
“So I suppose that means you can’t tell me about the trials?”
She shook her head. “Each trial is tailored to the individual, even if I had gone through my own, yours would be vastly different.”
“I see,” he said flatly. Though the smile she gave him told him she knew a lot more than she was telling him, whether that was for her own amusement or from orders she’d received, he wasn’t sure. And meeting this Overlord of hers would be a whole new ballgame.
“Do you have any more questions for me?” Cassandra was back to taking notes.
Kain racked his brain then shook his head. “No.”
They fell into a companionable silence and, seconds later, the elevator slowed before coming to a stop. The metal hinge door creaked open, and together they stepped out.
The flames and the inner layers of the earth had vanished sometime during their talk. He hadn’t noticed.
“This is not what I expected being dead to be like,” Kain muttered.
Cassandra examined her nails behind him. “Yeah, well, there’s more to death than dying.”
He took in his surroundings and let out a slow breath. “I am starting to see that now.”
Metal screeched behind him as the doors closed, accompanied by a loud whirring. She laughed. “Oh honey, you haven’t seen anything yet.”
FIVE
CASPIAN
CASPIAN STOOD AT the edge of the property of Hunter Corp. With Evander flanking him on the left. Nivian stood directly behind him as if she were trying to disappear. A cool spring breeze tugged at the hem of his cloak as they waited for the dark figure to reach them. Only the moon’s watery light silhouetted the man’s hat and shoulders as he walked, almost as if he too were a Reaper.
Finally, the man stopped before him, face hidden within the shadows. A flash of light sparked in one eye as he lifted his head to reveal a grin.
“Nice to see you two again,” Holter said. “Even if it is in the middle of the night.” His gaze traveled to Evander, then to Nivian as she stepped out from behind Caspian. “I see you’ve brought a guest.”
Nivian shifted under Holter’s gaze. White hair the color of moonlight was draped over one shoulder. Her eyes held a sadness filled with unsaid words to the man that Caspian hadn’t felt in longer than he could remember. He held his breath at that remembered pain, and did not envy her.
She took another step forward. Holter spread his arms out from his sides. Nivian hesitated for a brief moment before rushing into his open embrace. He wrapped her up in a hug just as a father would.
“I’ve missed you too, Nivi,” he whispered into her hair.
Caspian repressed the small tingle of jealousy that inched its fingers down his spine. He stood unmoving. The two of them needed this, needed the comfort only they could give each other. He would not deny them this moment. As he looked on, their pain so familiar, brought back his own memories, the hurt made fresh again with each passing second.
Eventually, Holter pulled back as Nivian brushed the back of her hand across her eyes. She had found enough comfort in him that she’d cried. The cold feeling eased its grip on him, and Caspian let out a slow breath.
Holter cleared his throat but his voice still sounded as if it scraped against gravel when he spoke, “Shall we head inside?” He let go of Nivian and turned to lead the way without waiting for an answer.
She walked next to Holter, and he reached out taking her hand and giving it a squeeze. Caspian waited a beat then followed with Evander trailing.
They walked in silence through the side door of the hanger. Two planes were parked inside, one with a large canvas cloth draped atop it.
A grunt came from the far side of the uncovered plane, then the clang of metal against cement as a metal object fell to the ground. Seconds later, two feet descended the ladder. The man’s feet hit the ground with a thud as he jumped the last few steps.
“Colin,” Holter called out. “You can close up for the night. I’ve got it from here.”
Colin stepped into the open, his red hair streaked with dark grease was pushed to the side. He flung a dirty rag over his shoulder and reached into his pocket as he walked up to the group.
“Sure thing, Boss. I just finished the repairs.” Pulling out a key, he dropped it into the older Hunter’s hand. Colin nodded at each Reaper, dark circles visible under his eyes, then turned and headed to one of the offices stationed at the back of the hanger.
They all moved on toward the deep underground of Hunter Corp. together in silence. Nivian still at the Hunter’s side. The man didn’t seem to notice, and if he did, then he didn’t mind her attaching herself to him. Holter stopped at a panel and pressed a few buttons. The large doors of the hanger slid to a close, the screeching of gears shrill in Caspian’s ears. After setting the locks they entered the same office they always had. Holter then used the key to open a small locker concealing an underground tunnel.
He hated the block against his ability to transport, but never complained. Though he could hardly blame them. Were the situations reversed, he would put up such measures to protect his own, even if they worked together.
They descended, the only sound between them was the sound of boots against the metal rungs of the ladder and the concrete floor of the passage.
Holter led them to
a room hidden down one of the many side tunnels. Inside, only a single bookshelf with a table in the center with five chairs, and a container holding several rolled up maps. Once the Hunter took his seat, the others followed suit.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t meet sooner.” Holter’s brows lifted. “I hope it didn’t cause any issues.”
Caspian set folded hands in front of him on the table. “There was no issue. I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me... us,” he corrected looking to Nivian sitting at the end of the table and picking at her nails. A knock on the door interrupted his next sentence.
Finn walked in not waiting for any of them to speak, Caspian recognized him from when they first fought against Yeva. His eyes fell to the petite blonde following him. Her energy was almost an audible buzzing radiating out from her.
Suddenly his throat felt tight and he had to swallow hard to remove the lump from his throat. Something about her felt familiar, something that tugged at a part of him that he didn’t know existed. There was nothing spectacular or extraordinary about her but she drew his attention nonetheless. She’d been at Nivian’s apartment the other day but he hadn’t looked at her, not really.
His attention had remained solely on Nivian. But with how she stole his focus now, how could he have missed her?
“Azira I wasn’t expecting to see you in so early.” Holter smiled warmly at the younger woman.
“Colin said Nivi was here and I thought it might be okay if I stole her for a few minutes?” She smiled innocently, but Caspian could see the mischievous glimmer behind her pleading eyes. She wasn’t as innocent as she appeared at first glance. And part of him found that rather appealing.
Azira... he rolled her name around in his mind.
Holter looked to Nivian. After a moments hesitation she stood, her reluctance to leave his side apparent in the expression crossing her features. It was strange, the feeling it gave him to set eyes upon Azira’s face.
So familiar. Something he’d not thought about in a long time. A feeling he almost forgotten. The Hunter linked arms with Nivian and pulled her out of the room whispering conspiratorially to her.
Caspian cleared this throat and turned back to Holter. “You are aware of the situation we all face now that Silas and Yeva are gone.”
“I am.” He nodded. “I assume you know what needs to be done?”
“Before Silas used the last of his powers to seal them both away, he told me to have Nivian and Kain take their place. Nivian is a powerful Reaper, with the ability to be more so than any we’ve known before, perhaps even rivaling that of Silas’s abilities. It will be a painful and lengthy process to get another up to the point that Kain was at to take on such power.”
Holter leaned back in his chair. “And Kain ... was,” he almost choked on the word, and his eyes filling with tears as he continued to speak, “the most powerful Hunter, given his history with Yeva. I take it you have her stone as well?” “That is correct.” “Though, I can’t promise anyone’s cooperation, this is a heavy burden that they must take on willingly. I, of course will be the first to volunteer, though I unsure if I’m might be too old for the process, or have the strength of power. But it is a risk well worth taking considering the alternative.”
“Understood.” Caspian cringed inwardly. He wished he could give Nivian the same courtesy of allowing her a choice, but she was the only one capable of taking on so much power. The chances of another Reaper surviving the ceremony were dangerously slimmer. It was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.
“I will do it,” Finn spoke up. He’d sat in silence, since he entered the room, but for those four words. His hands were folded on the table in front of him, fingers interwoven so tightly his skin took on a whitish hue. Finn let his chin drop as he took in several slow breaths. Heavy silence filled the room, and for a long moment no one made a sound. Then he slowly lifted his head to meet Caspian’s eyes as he spoke again, soft and low, “I said, I’ll do it. Next to Kain and Holter, I’m one of the most powerful here. It doesn’t seem like there’s much of a choice if it’s between living and destruction. So, I’ll do it.”
Holter’s brows creased as he studied him. “You don’t have to do this, there are others—”
“Someone needs to do it. I have more experience than most, so, why not me?” Finn stood and leaned on the table with clenched fists. Caspian found himself almost impressed by the man with the determined scowl etched upon his face.
“Thank you,” he said, and meant it.
The man’s mouth twitched, but he conceded with a single nod.
***
NIVIAN
Azira threw her arms around Nivian as the door clicked shut behind them. Of all her friends, Azira seemed to understand her pain the most. Nivian stood with her arms board straight at her sides, then slowly, she returned the embrace. And for the first time since Kain’s death, she felt stronger, less as if she would fade away into nothing. The hug was a simple gesture but it comforted her greatly.
Azira leaned back. “I didn’t think I’d see you around here so soon. But I’m glad you came.”
“Thanks. I think I am too.” A smile graced Nivian’s lips. It was small and felt foreign, but at least she was still capable of the expression.
Azira released her hold and linked her arm in Nivian’s. They walked side by side, aimlessly though the underground labyrinth in silence for a long while before Azira spoke. “I know you’re hurting right now, but I don’t want you to let this destroy you.” She dropped her arm and turned to face Nivian. “You have a lot of friends, and we are all here for you.”
Nivian swallowed and folded her hands in front of her. “It doesn’t feel real,” she started, barely above a whisper, “I keep looking over my shoulder and expecting him to be there, smiling.” Azira’s mouth drew into a tight line, the debate of saying
more clear on her face. Finally, she blurted out, “Can I say something to you? Something... about you and Kain — just an observation.”
The Reaper stopped walking and faced her. Loose strands of snow white hair cascaded off her shoulder as she angled her head. Blue eyes bore through her, as if she were trying to read her thoughts.
“Yes.” Came the quiet reply. Nivian cleared her throat, hating how even her voice had lost the strength it once held.
“I knew you and Kain were close,” Azira weighed her words carefully but there was no delicate way to say it. “But I thought you were only friends with him. There were times I thought I saw more, but I had no idea you felt so strongly for him.”
A thick silence filled the space between them. Azira shifted uncomfortably.
Nivian blinked twice, taken aback. Then, after a long moment, she ran her fingers trough her hair, pushing the strands away from her face. “Honestly, I didn’t realize it at first.” She twisted her fingers, dropping her gaze to the steel floor. “Love doesn’t come naturally to Reapers, it’s just not part of our existence. I spent most of my time with him fighting it. I didn’t understand what it was until... until it was too late.” The moment her scythe has sliced his life thread flashed through her mind like a bolt a lightning. “When I saw him laying there, whatever was holding me back broke and it all came rushing forward.”
“I—I didn’t know. It never occurred to me that love wouldn’t the same for you as it is for us.” Azira drew Nivian in for a quick hug. “Now I feel like a jerk for asking.”
“Don’t. It... is nice to talk about him. I’ll always regret not realizing it sooner.” Nivian lowered her lashes but not before a tear slid down her cheek.
“But you know how you feel now, and that’s something no one can ever take from you. Kain will never truly be gone as long as you hold on to that. Just, don’t let it stop you from living.”
Nivian lifted her chin a fraction of an inch, her eyes lit with a fire. No, she would never let go of what they had. The flicker of something she couldn’t yet recognize flickered in the back of her mind. Building upon itself.
Azi
ra’s com-watch buzzed, shaking Nivian from her thoughts. Azira pressed the blinking orange button and a message scrolled across the screen in bold, green lettering: REPORT TO ROOM B428.
That was where Holter, Finn and the other Reapers were. “Strange, I hadn’t been scheduled to be part of the day’s meeting,” she mused aloud. “I’ve got to get back to the meeting room, I wonder what they want, but I’m guessing they want you to come with me.”
The walk back was fast, not having gone too far in the first place. Azira pushed open the door and stopped abruptly causing Nivian barely avoid knocking her friend over. Across the room, Caspian stood scanning the bookshelf at the far side of the room with his hands behind his back. The Hunter was staring at him as if he’d sprouted a tail. Caspian faced them and his stoic expression mirrored
Azira’s. Both remained rooted to the ground, seemingly unaware of the world around them. Nivian frowned not sure if she’d missed something. She moved around her and sat in one of the empty chairs. Red splotched her friends chest and moved up her neck to stain her cheeks.
“Please come in Azira,” Holter said, a curious expression on his face. It wasn’t until his voice broke the silence that Azira finally moved to the empty seat at her left.
Finn leaned against the wall, arms crossed next to Evander, face drawn and pale. He wasn’t happy about something — not mad, just deep in thought, she supposed.
Moments later, Colin walked into the room, grease smudges streaked across his forehead. He plopped down in the last open seat and rubbed at his red-rimmed eyes. “What’s up Boss?”