by Jack Crosby
The pain shot up my leg and into my back. I didn’t have time to wince as another gargoyle flopped down dead beside me. With my scythe, I swung it around in my hand and lunged forward. He dodged the blade, but not the butt of the handle. It connected with the side of his head, knocking him down and out.
All four orbs fell harmlessly to the ground, my opponent was beaten. Unfortunately, another one stepped forward. It was the petite blonde with the katana. “You’ll get your turn girl, unless you hand over what’s mine!”
“You’re after my son?”
I spit on the ground at her. “He’s my son whore! He won’t be brought up having his head filled with the lies you tell him!”
Again, no anger from these people. She started to cry. “My heart broke when I thought you were dead and now it breaks again to see you in such a state. When did the powerful Death become a puppet?”
Something inside me defied the order I had. “Don’t talk to me! Death is no longer here, only Ruin!”
She dropped her sword. “I refuse to lift a finger against the man who lost so much to save me. How can I make you see reason? To uncover the lies you’ve been told?”
Why did I want to hear the information she might’ve had. “Stop with your lies witch! You can’t confuse me…” I too dropped my scythe.
“Astrid, is he subdued?” The Pride demon joined at her side. He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
This action smothered all the confused feelings I had. “Whore! You really were trying to bewitch me with your sharp tongue!”
This Astrid looked mortified and pushed Jacar away. “It’s not what you think! You were dead and we had a spark!”
The Pride demon actually tried to defend these actions too! “I never meant to replace you, I swear. Death, we’re friends and I never would’ve disrespected you!”
Another gargoyle went down, this one killed by a new figure on the front yard. I had to end this quickly. I raised my scythe and cut towards the Pride demon. Taking him out first was the sensible move. My plan was all for not when the blonde jumped in front of him. I tried to pull up, to save her as my instincts told me that was the right thing to do, but I was too late. The point of the scythe went right through her belly and stuck out her back.
“Noooo!! Astrid!” The Pride demon pulled her off the scythe, but it was too late. This weapon absorbed souls, even those who were immortal.
Wait, how did I know this one was immortal? My brain started going crazy. I had to grab the children, quickly. I ran to the house to complete my task. My surprise this morning continued when I saw my mistress standing there. She had one of the boys already in her arms. “Well done Ruin!”
I quickly kneeled and got back up. “We need to hurry, they won’t be down for long.”
“No need to hurry, I’ve got what I needed.” She waved her hand at me and my mind began to clear up. “You have been most fun to play with my old enemy.”
I wasn’t Ruin… my name was Derrick Grimm, also named Death, one of the Horseman. “No….”
“Yes, you killed the mother of your own child. Funny how that works. Oh, this one is going to hate you a lot for that!”
“You bitch!” I reached out to attack, but she phased away only to return out of my reach. “Look who it is, mother! I’m so glad to see you’re still with us after getting your brained fried!”
“Sabrina my daughter! You’ve gone too far this time you fucking bitch!”
She laughed before winking at me. “Don’t worry, I left you one kid, as who can afford to take care of multiple. Call it a gift to remember me by.” Then she was gone.
Forgetting everything else, I ran into the house, only to find my other son sitting in his crib, but his mother Jecella had a gaping hole in her chest; her heart ripped out. She began to catch fire and burn away right in front of me.
“FUCK!!!!”
Chapter 33 – Into Exile
I left that night with my son without saying a word to anyone. Jacar was too busy crying over the loss of Astrid, Famine was barely conscious, and I was in too much grief to speak to them. Khloros spotted me and ran after. He refused to stop following me and I eventually gave in.
Not only did I personally kill the mother of one of my kids, but because of my weakness, the second mother was killed by my most dangerous enemy. Jecella had grown on me, as both a companion and a confidant. I hoped both she and Astrid were somewhere better. Most nights I prayed that I would join them soon.
The three of us didn’t stop until three days later when we found an abandoned house sitting on a loch in Northern Scotland. It was a small one bedroom hunting cabin that had the obvious signs of being abandoned. I cleaned up an area for young Oz and went about the best way I knew how to take care of him.
Weeks went by like this. I found a small fishing village not too far from me where I’d go to trade stuff I caught for fresh milk and food. Some of the young locals liked it when I came in, as they got to pet Khloros. The two of us still hadn’t said much, especially about the night at the farmhouse.
We were returning from another successful trade when he asked. “So are you ready to talk yet? Or shall we keep pretending nothing happened?”
“What’s there to talk about?”
Oz made a funny noise and smiled. “Even the child laughs at you.”
We walked for a little bit more before I answered. “I killed Astrid.” Even the words didn’t sound real when I said them. Everything about that night seemed to happen while I wasn’t in my own body.
Khloros stopped. “You did not kill her, the witch did. You were the weapon wielded, not the person using it.”
He didn’t understand. “Maybe, maybe not. I’m still the fuck up who couldn’t fight off the witch’s magic. And worst of all,” I was trying to keep my voice down to not upset Oz, “I lost own son. That crazy bitch has Jacoby, doing the Almighty knows what to him!”
Oz started to cry a bit, but I calmed myself down and started rocking him a bit. It took a bit, but he calmed down and returned to the goofy kid he’d always been. “Sorry buddy, didn’t mean to get worked up.”
We got back to our little cabin and went inside. Khloros went around to the side and stuck his head in the window I built for him. “Death, I just implore you not to let this eat you up. Eventually we will have to find her and take care of this situation.”
What he really meant was I would have to stop hiding and return to the real world. I wasn’t even close to being ready for that. “When the moment strikes me, I’ll do it. For now, I need to honor those who lost their lives by making sure I don’t screw this one up.”
A few more days went by before anything of note happened. Oz and I were hanging out down by the loch’s water when Khloros came up. This time he wasn’t alone. “Hello Derrick.”
“Roxanne… what’re you doing here?”
Dressed to impress as always, she’d traded in her normal reds and blacks for white and blue. The skirt she was wearing was a bit longer than her Lust demon days, but she still kept her five inch heels. The cleavage was still there too, but not as pronounced. Seeing her actually pained me.
I got up with the kid in my arms. She came over and kissed me on the forehead. “Oh this one is going to be a lady killer. A Lust demon for a mom and you for the dad, Almighty help us.” She then leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.
My face burned a bit from where her lips had touched. “You didn’t answer the question.”
“Well, when I took this job with Michael, I meant to stick it through ‘til the end. Turns out this is the little cutie I’m to be the guardian angel of. And when I take a job, I stick with it all the way to the end.”
“You didn’t have to come all the way out here to do that. I’m sure you’re angel friends could’ve showed you a better way to keep watch.”
She came close and hugged me. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
I took her back to my home and got Oz settled in for a nap.
Khloros must’ve known to make himself scarce, as his big head wasn’t looking in on us. Roxanne sat really close to me, closer than I would’ve thought an angel would want to be to me. I considered myself toxic. “Michael and Veronica both send their regards and well wishes. Veronica really feels she let you down by not being there.”
“It wasn’t their fault. I’m the one who really messed up.”
She took my hand into hers and it reminded me of old times. “No, you can’t take the blame for this. No one would’ve been able to fight off my daughter. She’s gained too much power.”
“So what do we do from here?”
“The first thing you do is never leave me behind again, got it? We started this together and we’ll finish it together.”
Her hand gripped mine even tighter. “Why would you want to stay with me? I get watching over my kid, but why haven’t you given up on me yet?”
“I didn’t give up official angel status to hang out with a little bitch.”
She swore. She actually gave up angel status? “Are you freaking insane? You gave up angel status?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Technically I’m still an angel friend and I got to keep my responsibility to this one, especially since he’s half Lust demon. But yeah, I’m free to do whatever I want.”
I couldn’t believe it, after all the shit I’d done and caused, she still stuck by me. “I really don’t deserve you.”
“No you don’t but someone’s gotta keep you in order. And keep this place clean.” She glared at me. “For crying out loud, were you planning on raising a kid in this shit hole? Fuck me…”
“Is that an offer?”
Epilogue
**Fifteen Years Later**
“Jacoby concentrate!”
“Yes mother.” She was stern, yet fair. I kept focus on the energy surrounding me. “I see the chains, just as you said there would be!”
She walked over and appraised what I’d accomplished. “Very good my son. One day very soon you will make me very happy.”
It was rare to get a compliment from her. Even Balrog gave me a smile for my effort. “I hope this will be enough to kill the man who ruined my life…”
“It will be my son, for the man who killed your real mother is broken. Complete your training and you will even be stronger than him.” She stroked my face. “Soon, as your powers grow, I’ll take you to a place to expedite this process…”
Balrog left his station and walked over. “I can take him out again hunting if you wish.”
“That’s an excellent idea Balrog. Find me a young, strong one this time. The last two didn’t even make it through one of my special sessions before dying.”
I wasn’t sure what my mother did with the men we caught from the villages below the mountains, but their screams could be heard throughout the castle. But it was not my place to wonder. “We’ll find you the strongest one possible mother!”
She touched my cheek with my hand. “Yes, I do believe you will Jacoby. Soon we’ll travel to the harsh lands of Tartarus and there you’ll grow stronger than anyone could imagine!”
With anticipation, I grabbed my sword and followed Balrog out of the castle. I loved these exercises as each man I fought and beat was one step closer to killing the man who took my life from me, the bastard known as my father, Death!
This is far from over…
Divide and Conquest
Chapter 1 – Driving Lessons
“Damnit Oz! Pay attention to the road!”
My kid just looked at me like I was toilet slime. “Dude, I got this.” Then he addressed the car. “You won’t let me die, will ya Khloros?”
My horse’s voice came through the stereo system in the car. “Of course not Master Oz. As for your imbecile of a father, I should have years ago.”
I should probably back up and answer a few questions. Last time we spoke, Oz here was just a wee little guy who had just lost his mom and I ran away with. Now the little asshole’s sixteen and is getting ready to get his driver’s license. God bless the examiner the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation gives him.
Yep, we’re back in south Philly too, at the old detective agency Roxanna and I started. We had hopped around the globe a bit before settling down back here a few years ago. Roxanne said it would be good for Oz to have some stability in his already unusual life.
The poor kid was the son of the Horseman Death and a Lust demon. And yes, I told him what happened to his real mom, Jecella. I thought he was going to be pissed at me about it, but he took it in stride. He listened to the entire story and didn’t make any judgments until I was finished. Turns out he’s one tough kid, which is good because of the life he’s going to have. Especially since he doesn’t know about his brother…
What really helped is when he said he thought of Roxanne as his mom. This was amazing to her because her only other daughter was a complete bitch. I’m pretty sure she cried for two straight hours.
The past sixteen years have taken their toll on me though. For the first time in my very long life, I feel old. The running and hiding from the inevitable has done a number on Derrick Grimm. It’s hard to sleep at night and it’s even harder to trust the world. I haven’t seen any of my brothers since that fateful night years ago and contact from Upstairs has been minimal. Only Veronica, the angel, checks in on us once in a blue moon.
What scares me is that Sabrina, the Hell witch spawn of Roxanne and Beelzebub (don’t ask – celestial family reunions are a total clusterfuck) is still out there. Plus she has my other son, Jacoby. I tried so hard to find him, but they’re like ghosts in the wind. Whatever small leads I find here or there just lead to dead ends. Plus, I didn’t know just how strong Sabrina’s gotten. She might be on par with Lucifer for all I knew.
The car swerved again, breaking me out of my thoughts. “Whoa! What the hell are you doing Oz?”
“Sorry, I got a text from this hot chick at school.”
I looked on at him incredulously. “You can’t text and drive you dumb fuck! Sweet mercy, do you have shit for brains?”
He just rolled his eyes at my outburst. “You’re one to talk. Whenever mom texts you, you take it.” Then with added zing, “Hypocrite.”
“I’m an adult! If I want to risk my life, I will!”
“To be fair Grimm,” great the horse had to chime in, “you are both immortals. A car accident would only do lasting damage to me, not either of you.”
Yep, Oz was gifted with my special ‘talent’ of immortality. I mean he was half a Horseman and half a Lust demon, it only made sense. “See Oz, you should think of your Uncle Khloros before you go texting said girl next time.”
He dropped the phone in the cup holder and hit the gas, sending me head back into the headrest with vigor. Let me tell you, I was so happy when he pulled up front of our little slice of heaven in the city so I could get out. I practically ran from the car and kissed the ground. “I can’t believe Roxanne talked me into this shit.”
Oz tossed me the keys as he walked by towards the door. “Don’t be so melodramatic.”
I put them in my pocket and followed him in. We were greeted by our former Lust demon and one-time angel friend, Roxanne. We’d created a little family unit for my kid and she deserved a lot of the credit. Michael had blessed her with a second chance and she was basically Oz’s guardian angel; much more than that actually.
Gone was her tan skin, replaced by a more Death appropriate pearl white and her hair was long and sleek. She maintained her curves and as always had that devil may care smirk that got me. We’d had our ups and downs, but the Almighty kept bringing us back together. Even after all of my dalliances and a bit of rejection towards her.
She’d taken well to life back in the city and was dressing the part too. When I asked her why she always dressed like she was going to the club, her response was, “To feel good, you must look good. Something you desperately need to do.”
She gave Oz a big hug and kiss before sending him on his
way. Once he ran upstairs to his little apartment above us, “So, how did he do?”
“He’s a terrible driver! I don’t even know where he picked up half of those habits!”
Her black heel tapped the ground. “I know exactly where he picked them up – you.” The way she said it with that impish grin was actually quite cute. “Whether you like it or not, you’re his father and his role model. You could do a better job at both if we’re being honest.”
“Always with the honesty huh?”
“That is why you still love me after all these years.”
It certainly wasn’t the love story they try to hawk women in the grocery store, but somehow we made it work. I guess being two celestials with checkered pasts made it a lot easier to forgive and forget. “Be that as it may, sometimes a nice white lie would be cool.”
“And a diamond tennis bracelet would also be cool, but alas we don’t always get what we want.”
Loud stomping shook the house. Oz was on his way back down. “Yo, parental units, can I go over to Jesse’s house to hang out for a bit?”
It was a Saturday afternoon and what kid wanted to be stuck in the house with his supernatural parents? “Yeah, just don’t be out late okay?” He gave me a salute and ran out the door.
Roxanne was looking at me like I had three heads. “You sound like such an old man.”
Having looked in the mirror before I took Oz out for his lesson, I knew I still looked like an awesome early twenties guy. “The only thing old on me is my soul baby.”
Just as I was getting ready to seduce this hot little piece of ass, my phone rang. No one really calls me, they know the best way to get in touch with me is through Roxanne. I pulled it out of my pocket and saw it said unknown caller. Roxanne and I shared an odd look before I answered. “Hello?”
