Chapter 2

A beam of sunlight shone through the window, enough to wake up a cranky Ray. It was time to get up. She rose from her bed slowly, and tightened the drapes to stop the light from invading. Her room returned to the deep darkness that she preferred, a gentle feeling for her darkened eye.

She sat in front of her wooden vanity, grabbing her hair brush and lightly streaking through her hair. She avoided looking too closely at her face, zoning in on any tangles in her hair that she spotted. As she finished, she exchanged the brush for a vial of medicine, and consumed some of its contents. It was a hard swallow, but it was worth the way it made her feel in the long run. Affirmation for who she is, the only thing she would accept from a doctor.

The reaper changed from her nightgown into her clothes made especially for the funeral service. Deep black linens, and a coat devoid of the usual blue seams her reaper uniform was decorated with. She glanced at the vanity mirror one last time, and felt strange. Why did she have to attend these things, being who she is? It felt wrong for her to be there, when she should have been the one in the ground. Was it to make her feel grateful? Director Clementine always insisted she attended funerals, that she was a perfect fit for them. Perhaps it was her heightened senses to looming spirits, but it still felt inappropriate. Regardless, orders were orders.

With her shades on, Ray carefully let herself out of her room, not making a sound. Even her steps along the tiled floor with her boots were quiet. She made her way to the dining hall where her brother Dirk would be waiting. He was always perceptive to her sleep schedule, and as expected, already had her breakfast sitting on the table for her. He very kindly welcomed her, settling her into her chair.

“Morning, darling,” he said warmly, a light kiss to her head before taking his seat.

“Good morning, Dirk,” she said, trying to hide the shake in her hand.

“I checked your schedule for the day,” Dirk said, “the house is on Fell Street. You can make it there in a few minutes, so why do you take some time to eat?”

Ray took a spoonful of her porridge, feeling bitter. “I’m not that hungry,” she said.

Dirk sighed, and stroked her hair. “You never are. At least try to eat a little more than usual today?” He looked at her hopefully. She just glanced at him and back to her food.

Ray took a few more bites of her food as a younger reaper approached her, wearing the same uniform she had.

“Miss Ray,” the reaper looked at Dirk, who gave her a hardened stare, “uh, Miss Ramona, are you almost ready?”

“Give her a moment, Agnes,” Dirk spoke for Ray.

Ray swallowed and pushed her bowl forward. “It’s fine, I’m ready.” She stood up, taller than the reaper Agnes. She looked down at her, completely unreadable. The younger girl couldn’t help but cower a bit.

Saying nothing, Ray pushed past Agnes and, expecting her to follow, silently left the dining room. Behind her, Dirk shook his head and carried the unfinished meal away. Feeling him get farther away, Ray loosened herself.

“Do you have the house address?” Agnes asked. Back to her stiff form.

Ray cleared her throat, adjusting her voice. “Yes, let’s go.”

* * *

The front door was adorned with the usual black wreath, signaling the house of the dead. Ray carefully knocked on the door, and was gravely welcomed by the mourning family. Without a word, the reapers entered a room full of strong-smelling flowers strewn everywhere. In the middle of the room was the casket and the dead, solemnly laying there with whom Ray presumed to be his wife weeping at the foot of the table.

The reaper approached the widow, her presence shocking the poor woman.

“Ah,” the widow quivered, dabbing a handkerchief to her eye, “you’re from the guild. Thank you for coming.”

Agnes spoke up. “Is it alright if we start now?”

The widow looked around, then back at the reapers. “The undertaker should be here soon, please go ahead.”

The family gathered around the reapers, who took out beautiful prayer beads. They held them closely in the palm of their hands, and closed their eyes as they turned their heads to the casket. Ray prayed under her breath, her fellow reaper echoing her words. The beads began to glow blue, reminiscent of the soul flame. The casket became encased with a light haze, followed by the windows and doors being lined with phantasia. The longer they prayed, the stronger the magic became. Ray could feel the spirits waning off, their reach weakened with each word.

“Mors vincit omnia,” the reaper ended the prayer, and the phantasia wore away. The room was normal once more, and the family gave their thanks.

A knock followed by the door opening revealed the undertaker, an old man whom Ray was all too familiar with. He shook hands with the family one by one, until meeting the reapers at the casket.

“Good to see you, my reapers,” the undertaker held out his hand. Ray ignored it. “Ah… Looking lively as ever, Ray,” he turned to Agnes, “and lovely to see you Miss Agnes. Are we finished here?”

“The cleansing is complete, yes,” Agnes spoke, trying to hide her awkwardness.

The undertaker called for the strongest of the visitors to help carry the casket away and out the door. The reapers followed with the rest of the family before taking their positions.

Looking away from the house, the deceased gave his last goodbye and the mourners marched him to the graveyard. Ray and Agnes adorned their scythes, one reaper on either side of the casket. The group traversed the old streets of Belmus, taking a twisted path. As they passed by, onlookers would pause and quietly give their condolences, removing their hats and praying for the best.

The black cloud of mourners finally reached their destination, greeted by reapers at the front gates of the graveyard. The Belmus graveyard was vast, full of rich history and lost love. Grand headstones were decorated with flowers and trinkets. Ray could feel the lost spirits roaming the dirt paths. They were harmless, for now. But every time she visited, she couldn’t help but feel that she belonged with them. They called to her, as if one of their own. 

She shook her thoughts away. There were things still left for her in the living realm to do.

The group arrived at the grave site ready for the dead. They placed the casket in front of the site, and gathered around the undertaker.

“Dear family and friends of Benedict, thank you for coming today,” the old man welcomed them. “Before we lay our good man to rest, let us begin our preparations for his journey to the realm of the dead, and aid him protection from the demons of old.”

The people nervously shifted in their spots, but did well to hide their worry.

The undertaker took out a vial of strange liquid and sprinkled it across the casket. “To keep him safe and holy.” An assistant approached and handed him a wreath made of sage. “To repel the demons,” he said as he placed it on the casket. He held out prayer beads over the casket. “So that the Grim Reaper may find him well,” he said, and gave a short prayer. As he finished his prayer, the symbol of the inbetween appeared, ingrained into the wood of the casket, a skull-like sigil. “And finally,” he took out a single rose and placed it down, “to prevail against invading demons, to keep his body down.”

Vampires, Ray thought. The idea of body-snatching demons sickened her. There hadn’t been a case of vampires since Lord Dracula’s demise, but it was important to prepare for the worst case.

The family lowered the casket into the ground, and the undertaker and his assistant filled the hole. The people wept, the widow most especially. Ray glanced at her fellow reaper, sadness in her eyes. Ray felt nothing.

The service ended, and the two reapers waited for the family to disperse before heading back to the guild. Their home was just a ways away from the graveyard. The Belmus Reaper Guild was a grand building. The arched architecture was foreboding, sharp spires pierced the heavens.

Upon entering the building, Ray immediately looked out for Dirk. Nowhere to be found, it seemed. She was free, for now.

“Hey, you two!” A friendly voice called out. Ray turned to see Beatrice and her beautiful smile. “How was the service?”

“It went well, thank you,” Agnes spoke, feeling more friendly with the girl. “Nothing went wrong, as usual.”

“That’s good to hear,” Beatrice said, turning to Ray. The ghostly reaper said nothing, still weary of Dirk. Beatrice put an arm around her partner and held her close. “Why don’t you two get some rest?”

Agnes bowed her thanks to her superior and sped off. Ray looked at Beatrice with a cold face.

“Did you have fun?” Beatrice asked, pressing closer to Ray.

Ray felt her warmness, desperate to get closer to her. “It’s the same as always,” was all she could say.

“Oh come on, now,” Beatrice teased, “Agnes is a sweet gal, did you at least get along with her?”

“I don’t really care.”

Beatrice clicked her tongue. “You need to try harder, Ray. Me and Dirk can’t be the only people you talk to. And I would really like it if you had someone other than Dirk to talk to at all.”

“I have you,” Ray said, trying to hide a blush.

Beatrice pulled the girl in front of her, both hands on her shoulders. “You need more than me, you know that.” Beatrice paused, thinking. “I can’t always be here for you.”

Ray held her breath. It was a nasty thought she hated to have. “There’s no point in making friends here, they all avoid me for a reason,” she finally said. “I’m nothing but a warning to them, of a terrible fate.”

“No it’s because you always look so grim,” Beatrice said playfully. “I don’t see you that way, I doubt the others do too. And you’ve grown so much since then, you work hard every day. They look up to you in that way, I’m sure of it.”

“No they don’t.”

“Well I do.”

Ray turned away, gently removing Beatrice’s hands. She didn’t understand what the girl saw in her. Beatrice was a million leagues better than her. She deserved better.

There was a cold air, and suddenly Ray knew who was with them. Dirk sweetly grabbed her hand and gave it a kiss. “Good to see you’re back,” he said.

Beatrice took a step back. “Hey, Dirk.”

He just gave her a cold stare, then looked back at Ray. “Clementine wants us, all of us,” he glanced at Beatrice. “Let’s go.”

The reaper officers filed into the Director’s office quietly. They stood in their usual order, Dirk first and Beatrice third. The office was filled with bookshelves and stacks of paper. Her desk was tidy and uniform, as always. Behind her seat hung on the wall was a peculiar scythe, one that the reapers were quite familiar with. It was encased in glass, with a simple placard below saying “Do Not Touch.” The blade had a particular shimmer under the gas lamps, an iridescent shine.

“Our sponsor from the Shurgate Company believes to have important information regarding our mission, " Director Clementine stated, not taking the time to welcome her officers.

The reapers before her straightened up.

Clementine clapped some papers together on her desk and adjusted her glasses. “Mr. Shurgate did not specify in his letter, as per my request to keep it under wraps. Therefore,” she paused, looking up at the trio, “two of you will bring a team of your choosing to Alden.”

Only two? They all thought.

Dirk cleared his throat. “Then Ramona and I-“

The Director sharply cut him off. “You and Beatrice will lead this mission.”

“But ma’am, don’t you think Ramona is best suited for this?” Dirk said, trying his best to convince her.

“Miss Ramona is still not yet in the position I would like her to be in to handle this job. She still has much work to do before her condition is cured. Otherwise, I would have her go in your place, Dirk.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “So, as previously discussed, Beatrice will be taking over the King mission. That is final.”

She handed Beatrice an envelope sealed shut with wax. The Director gave her a knowing look.

“Of course, ma’am,” Beatrice took the envelope and tucked it away.

Clementine stood up, giving each reaper a nod. “You will leave for Alden tomorrow morning, it is a long trip so don’t be late.” She walked over to the office, and motioned for them to leave. “That is all.”

The reapers left the office, and the door closed shut behind them.

“She should let you go instead of her,” Dirk said, irritated. “You’re far more skilled.”

“I appreciate that, truly,” Beatrice said, pushing past the man.

Ray didn’t know what to say. Her arms were folded as she looked at the ground. She watched Beatrice’s feet walk away.

“Perhaps she trusts you to take care of things here while I’m gone,” Dirk continued, putting an arm around Ray. “Can’t say I disagree, but I’m still disappointed.” As he spoke, he tucked Ray’s hair behind her ear and placed his mouth closer to her. “Will you be okay without me?”

Ray nodded, unable to speak.

“Since I’ll be gone for a while, we should spend the night together. I’ll be expecting you.” Dirk said, pulling away from her. Ray couldn’t help but whimper. “Get some work done, enjoy your rest of the day, Ramona.”

He slipped his hand across hers and left. Ray couldn’t bring herself to say anything, and watched him leave. Her heart skipped a beat.