“He bit my Goon! He’s insane!”
“Come on, this Hunter isn’t worth it. We’ll deal with you later traitor” Not wanting their pets to be torn to pieces, each Reaper quickly evaporated away.
“Good boy Raix, okay you can relax now.” Raix took a snap at me as I reached down to pet him, his teeth just barely missing my fingers as I withdrew them back. “What the hell Raix?! It’s just me now!”
He snorted an unpleased grunt before sinking into the grass. The Hunter Gargoyle had stumbled to his feet, clutching his arm around his midriff and coughing into his fist. For a moment Gargoyle just looked up at me in silence, his eyes pinched together in pain and his brows furrowed as if he didn’t know what to say.
“Are you okay?” I walked forward and offered my hand out, but Gargoyle didn’t take it. He looked just like the other Hunters, tanned skin, round doll face and red hair but there was obviously something off about his appearance. His hair didn’t glow like the other Hunters, but seemed doused in heavy gel. Also his skin didn’t radiate light and his eyes didn’t shine with bronze. As I looked at him closer, there were some smaller differences that I could see. His roots were black and he had a certain smell that didn’t seem to fit the other Hunters.
“Who are you?” He finally asked me.
“I’m Jordon, and this here is my friend Elliot.” Elliot nodded briefly, his eyebrows tightened as he tried to make sense of the scene in front of him.
“Why did you help me?”
“It just seemed like the right thing to do. You can’t help what you are same as I can’t remove this tattoo from my face. As far as I know, you’ve done nothing wrong to me.”
“I am a Hunter. I am to be respected and shown loyalty by all Reapers.” Gargoyle winced and bent back over still clutching at his stomach.
“Well, that’s not exactly working out well for you now is it?”
“I must appear ungrateful and for that I apologise. If you hadn’t stepped in I don’t know what they would’ve done. My name is Gargoyle and I owe you my thanks.”
“Why are you out here alone? You know it’s dangerous.” Elliot questioned.
“Don’t worry about my business; I was searching for banished just like every Hunter out there. Sometimes it’s just easier to work from the ground.”
Elliot glanced over at me with a look that said ‘outcast’.
“Well, as long as you’re okay I guess we should be on our way.” I turned to leave but Gargoyle shot his hand out to snare my cloak.
“You cannot leave; I have to repay your kindness. You saved me and I am a man who must repay all debts, I owe you.”
A thousand things drummed through my mind, a thousand possibilities that I could take advantage of from having a Hunter indebted to me. I touched my chin in deliberation. “Can you remove this curse?”
“No, only the great spirit Royals can do such a thing.”
I glanced over at Elliot for a brief moment, “Can you free Banished from the Sin Realms?”
Gargoyle scrunched his face up, “And why would you want that? That’s strictly out of the question; it goes against everything a Hunter stands for. No sorry I cannot.”
“Is there at least a possibility that a banished could still be alive? After a long period of time?”
“If they are worth keeping to the Sin, then there is a possibility or if they are strong willed. Otherwise, I doubt it.” I drummed my fingers across my chin when an idea hit me.
“Okay, I want you to tell the other Hunters that you allowed for Reaper Elliot’s early release and to stop searching for him.”
“I will tell them exactly that.” He spoke with an air of nobility and graciousness despite the dirt that clung to his hair and stained his clothes.
“We both stood up for you Hunter,” Elliot abruptly stepped forward, “You owe both Jordon and I a debt. You’re debt to me will be repaid for telling the Hunters but you will still owe Jordon.” Gargoyle pursed his lips but did not disagree.
“I cannot think of anything that I need right now, but I may call on you Gargoyle in the future, it’s good to see I have a friend on the other side of the fence.”
Gargoyle scoffed at the word, “We are not friends. Above all else, I am a still Hunter and you are a Reaper. I am just repaying my debt.”
“I understand.”
“Till next time.” Gargoyle’s body silently broke into white dust and was carried with the lift of the wind.
“That’s definitely something you don’t see every day, a Hunter who repays his debts to Reapers. He’s one of the good ones. Even so, you’ve made a huge mistake.” Elliot shook his head laughing, “And I guess I’ve made a huge mistake too.”
“Are you worried about those Reapers? You saw them; Raix had them peeing their pants.”
“Word will spread and you’ll be mark as a traitor.”
“Seriously? I can’t seem to do anything right, but thanks for sticking by me.”
“You went into the realm of Wrath for me, the least I could do was stand with you against Reapers. Did feel kind of good though, watching their eyes pop out of their skull when Raix leapt at them” Elliot laughed before motioning with his head to leave.
“Come on; let’s go before they return for round two.”
***
Feeling the pressure of the Hunters withdraw from their search for Elliot, we finally felt safe enough to return back to Elliot’s apartment. Some hot food and a bed plump with cotton was like stepping into a dream for me. I collapsed on top of the bed and kicked my feet up. Even the sound of television was music to my ears as I listened to the seven o’clock news muttering in the next room about the upcoming weather predications.
We are looking at some light rain patches through the week; closer to the end predictions indicate heavier showers from the 28th and the 29tth. Moving up towards North-East we have cloudy with some late afternoon sun, clearing up for the weekend… I felt myself spring upwards from the bed and charge into the lounge where Elliot was watching t.v. Startled Elliot jolted and glanced over his shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
“What did they just say? What is the date?”
“The 27th. Why do you care?”
“I have to go back. I have to go back right now, I don’t have much time.” I turned abruptly and made my way to the front door, pinching up the hems of my cloak and pulling the hood over my head. Elliot leapt upwards to stop me, unable to read the urgency that tightened my face.
“Go where exactly? What is it that you have to do?”
“It’s tonight. I can’t believe I nearly forgot. I’m such an idiot”.
“You’re not making any sense!” He snatched at my arm.
“I have to go back to Whitehaven. Tonight is the night of Evan’s concert and I promised him I’ll be there. I’m already late...”
“He won’t recognise you Jordon- even if you rocked up he won’t know you’re there. There’s no point…”
I shook my head, “No you’re wrong. I promised him I would show up, I must be there.” Elliot let his hand drop defeated.
“Alright, but I’ll come with you. Just to be safe.”
“No it’s okay you can stay here, I’ll be fine. I’ll be back later.”
***
I flipped the hood over my head and summoned Raix from the walls. I whispered to him where I wanted to go and urged him to hurry. It was already 7:15, with any luck Evan’s piece would have been scheduled for later in the night’s performance. A crack of light unravelled in front of me as I stepped through the trees, directly outside the stone walls of Evan’s high school. The sun was sitting just behind the hills leaking a weak orange glow across the forest face. Cars filled the car park and large billboard posts and banners hung like jewellery across the stone entrance, directing people inside.
I followed the crisp notes of violins and flutes into the grand hall double doors. There were kept close, a teacher no doubt standing post on the other side to stop gate crash
ers so I stepped back under my cloak and stepped through the wood. The audience were applauding the young musicians who stood from their seats and bowed; the hall perhaps big enough to seat 500 guests. The curtains were towed into a close; the light along the walls dimming as the scuffle of feet could be heard rearranging the seats and instruments.
As we waited I got as close as I possibly could, but when I couldn’t find a spare seat for me to take I had no choice but to stand in the wings of the halls. I prayed I had made it in time and clasped my hands to my mouth, tightening my grip.
As the curtains fell backwards the crowd fell to a hushed whisper.
Within the spot light, a room of darkness filling in the world around him Evan waited. The piano of polished black awaited him; the white pristine keys were cold and stiff beneath his fingers. With echoing footsteps Evan approached the piano in his crisp clean uniform, addressed the audience with a bow before taking his seat. Time stopped for him, the squeeze of each heart beat silenced as he lifted his hands above the keys and started to play. Every memory I ever had of when I was young, sitting just as he sat, rolling the notes out of the piano into a giant strange audience was flooding back to me.
I could remember it as if I still sat there, stuffed in my tight suit and the sweat between my fingers as I glided them across the keys. The nerves were like bugs in my stomach and I wanted nothing more than to close the curtain between me and the audience so I could play without judgement.
But Evan looked different than I had. He was strong in his posture, his face was soft as if the music had not only played from the chords of the piano but sang from his heart. I felt my shoulders slump into the wall and I couldn’t stop my eyes from filling with tears. The song I hadn’t had time to teach him filled the walls and up to the roof in soft ripples, he was up there hitting every note as if he bled the melody. The wave of tranquil peace moved over the crowd, and everyone felt their eyes open a little wider and their breaths tighten with each inhale, surprised by his beauty. I had wished that this moment never had to end, and for just a split second the hushed breaths of the audience vanished and I was the only one in the room with him, watching him, listening to his every beat.
When his finger hit the last note and the song spiralled above him and out across the hall the crowd sat in a moment of silence. Evan stood and bowed at the waist, prompting the audience to raise their hands in applause.
A foreign numbness shifted through me and kept my hands at my chest, clutching my heart as if I was in pain. Evan’s green eyes moved instinctively across the crowd, searching for someone and I knew that he felt my presence among the dimmed faces. I stepped forward, clapping as loud as I possibly could and cheering his name, shouting out so he knows that even if he can’t see my face that I was here. That I heard him.
I felt myself almost running to the stage, trying to wave down Evan’s attention but before I could get too close Evan turned and walked off into the curtains.
A huge weight had been lifted off me as I turned on my heel, the smile as firm on my face as if the corners of my lips had been stapled to my cheeks. The excited whispering wasn’t lost among the clapping, and I turned myself towards them in hopes of seeing my family standing on their feet proudly. Instead, hiding among the shadowed faces of the parents and families shone a bright set of eyes. The strange Reaper lingered for a moment with his attention turned towards me; but as I caught sight of him he turned his eyes up onto the stage exactly where Evan had been standing.
The smile on my face dropped instantly and I clenched my teeth together. Reapers don’t cause death Christophe had once told me, but I don’t think he meant that we can’t. I had no doubt that that Reaper had been a part of the gang harassing Gargoyle earlier, and that he had followed me here to perhaps teach me lesson. He wore a smirk underneath his hardened eyes, his lips moist as he worked out how to punish me.
Evan! Before I could catch him the Reaper flickered through the spirit world and disappeared, leaving me behind breathless in my anxiety. The ending ceremony started shortly after Evan’s piece but I couldn’t stay to watch. I moved outside where the Reapers were waiting.
Chapter Fourteen:
Each hid beneath their tipped cloaks and stood like a united wall in front of me, “Friend of yours?” They had asked as I approached.
“You even stand within one meter of him; I will personally hunt you down.” I stepped up to them warningly and held my hand clenched to their face. “This is between you and me only. Leave innocents out of this.”
“What? Are you going to set your Goon on us again? Too weak to fight your own battles?” The Reaper who had been inside the hall watching now stepped forward. Slowly they started to circle around me, moving without turning their backs and cracking their knuckles.
“And I guess ganging up eight against one makes you strong?” I rebutted when my eyes fell upon a flash of familiarity standing among the pack. She was just as surprised to see me, I could see it in how her eyes widened and her eyebrows pinched with concern. Yet Teresa did not step out of the crowd that confronted me, she remained standing side by side with the other Reapers praying that I didn’t spot her. I caught sight with her and she dropped her gaze down quickly, ashamed by her betrayal.
I couldn’t find the anger to blame her though; she had made it perfectly clear that her loyalties were not with me. I could have easily singled her out, called out for help and have the other Reapers turn on her but then I’ll just be forcing her to stand beside me in this upcoming beating. I looked away, pretending I never saw her in the first place.
“You’ve been nothing but trouble from the very beginning, you’ve had Hunters punishing good Reapers and patrolling the Drop Off, searching for that Elliot accomplice of yours and making our jobs difficult. No Hunter will come questioning us if something was to happen to you, and you probably think you’re untouchable with Raix as your protector, but now we have this.”
He revealed beneath his sleeve a vial that shone of bright silver, the silvery smoke shifting within the glass tube in a continuous dance. I felt myself tense and my eyes fall onto the small tube, knowing that with that power they could have Raix turn on me and rip me to shreds. Teresa’s eyes darted between me and the vial, the shock clear by her slacked jaw. Her acting skills had improved; her attempt at acting innocent at the appearance of the vial nearly had me fooled. Without a second glance Teresa disappeared into the darkness and I felt my last strain of hope vanish with her. I lifted my hands in surrender but I knew my punishment was just beginning. The double doors were pushed open and the flock of the existing crowd flooded the car park. I glanced over my shoulder at their noise, trying to catch a glimpse of Evan making his way home among them.
“What are you planning on doing?” I asked as the leader fiddled with the test tube like it was some toy to toss around.
“I guess it wouldn’t be half as fun if I didn’t tell you first, originally we were just going to have Raix break you down piece by piece till you become something like Christophe. But seeing you inside there, how you watched over that boy like some protective hawk… well I thought it’ll be more fun if we made Raix tear HIM apart instead.”
“No!” I lurched forward and Raix sprung up from the shadow, snapping just as vicious as my heart was pounding. I made a grab for the Reaper’s arm just as one of their Goons slashed me with their claws before dragging me into the dirt. Raix was distracted by my hit, letting his defences down and allowing the other Goons to pounce on him. The wolf was lost within seconds beneath the chaotic bulk of their tearing but his whines were like screams against my ear drums. As I hit the floor the others moved onto me, snaring the crown of my head by my hair and lifting my chin up. I felt someone’s knuckles hit me against my cheek, knocking me back to the ground before my head was snatched up again by the roots. Both arms were held against my back and my legs pinned beneath my body.
“Don’t! Don’t!” I could barely speak as each blow twisted my head around and shoved back in
to the dirt. The one restraining me moved my hoodie over my head, casting the shield of invisibility over me so no one would interfere. A flashback of when I was trapped beneath Luke fired through as hot as a bullet, but this time I wasn’t fighting for my life but for Evan’s. Knowing what awaited him only had me thrashing harder, ignoring the pains that twisted my muscles and begged me to yield.
“Hey!” There was a bang and the weight on my shoulder blades was thrown off me. I scrambled to my feet, disorientated for a moment before I heard a familiar voice rise above the noise.
“Get off him!” It was Elliot; he had snared one of the Reaper’s by the throat and had First backing the leader against a tree trunk.
Beside Elliot stood Teresa, her defiant smug face not lost beneath her lowered hood. In a flash she summoned her vulture who swooped on the Leader, snatching the vial from his grasp. In the next moment all war broke out and we had Reaper against Reaper and Goon against Goon. Teresa was fast and teleported through a dark hole with her pet but had all of us dragged through the portal with her. The darkness pulled me at my chest, blinded me than dumped me within seconds in an unfamiliar area. The Goons chased each other between each jump as the Reapers were fumbling and crashing on top of each other like brawling drunks. Each teleportation lifted us upwards from the ground before dumping us seconds later, scattered and out of place across the floor.
It was like watching a snowball rolling down a steep hillside, but instead of snow there were a bunch of disorderly people tumbling over each other and throwing punches into each other’s sides. The Goons were just a blur in their mad dash, but somehow Teresa’s vulture, Raix and First understood that they were on the same team. As the Vulture hit the floor being dragged down by her wings First leapt over and snared the vial into his jaws. Running and weaving worked for him till a serpent type Goon snared the hyena around the throat, choking him till the vial was spat out and collected by a hybrid lion-pig beast. Hot on his trail was Raix, leaping and hurdling over the others in his desperate attempt at fetching the test tube back, not pausing to kick off the snake that bit into his shoulder blades. Every few seconds we were teleported with a massive bang and thrown mercilessly from jump to jump. At one moment Teresa had kicked me in the gut and I had accidently punched Elliot in the side of his hip. Not stopping, the Goons continued their chaotic chase and on leases we were dragged along with them.
My Demonic Ghost Book two (The Reapers 2) Page 13
