My Demonic Ghost Book two (The Reapers 2)

by Jacinta Maree

  The young girl turned her head back away, leaning towards the butterfly as if it were speaking to her. Feeling the pressure of running out of time I stepped forward when a heavy wave hit me in the stomach, picking me up and pinning me against the door. The weight burrowing into me was like concrete slabs were being pressed into my rib cage.

  “Please… I don’t mean you… any harm!” My eyes squeezed shut, fighting against the pressure that choked me as the Blue Spirit briefly glanced over her shoulder once more.

  “I told you not to startle it…”

  The large butterfly had spontaneously morphed once more, restructuring its appearance back into the human body I had seen when I first walked in. It was like an alien. White short pale hair complimented its pale skin. It’s almost human body was distorted with animal influence, elongated arms and fingers stretched into claws, its spine raised against its skin and its skeleton curved like a cat. I only caught brief glances at its face where painted on its forehead like a 3D tattooed was the same pattern and colour of the wings of the butterfly. It covered all across its forehead and under its eyes and chin like some sort of beautiful, pastel war paint.

  I struggled to look away from the eyes of creature, its iris had a black slit in the middle of the pupil and vibrant teal shade leaving no white colour at all; it almost looked like it belonged to an extra-terrestrial reptile. A faint birth mark of an outline of a butterfly covered most of its neck. It was on all fours, titling its head right and left, studying me with every whiff from its human nostrils. The creature was genderless and strange. In patches the human skin was coloured in butterfly patterns.

  “W-What is that thing?”

  “The most beautiful miracle in the world… pure instinct. There are only so many in the entire spiritual cosmic, to have one as my captor is quite an honour.” She gently lifted herself upwards into a stand before turning to face me head on. I was still pressed against the door, feeling my insides flatten into the wood. The pressure of my blood filled my head blooming my cheeks red and causing my eyes to water. The creature kept a constant distance, its nostrils flaring and its eyes blinking in a strange horizontal blink. It was like some sort of biological experiment gone wrong, infusing the human body with foreign animalistic features.

  “Among spirits they are known as Creators, wild emotionally driven essences more than capable of tearing even the most powerful Royal from the throne… but they lack ambition so they are not seen as threats but mere tools to be used. My beautiful Creator has been conditioned to attack any non-pure spirits likes Hunters, Reapers and even Royals. I’m afraid I cannot go with you as long as it is here.”

  “Can you-please make it let go of-me?”

  The Blue Spirit gently touched the back of the Creator’s neck, soothing it into dropping its hold on me. As I slumped against the door, the stampede of footsteps now reached the other end of the corridor and were making their way straight for me.

  “It’s for the best that you depart…”

  “No wait… I need you to come with me!”

  “Apologises Reaper, I fear that I am unable to leave this room. I am a prisoner here.” The footsteps had hit the door with a startling bang. I pushed against the frame at the same time as they threw their bodies into it, trying to keep the door closed but they were stronger than I was.

  “How do I free you?”

  She smiled softly before placing herself back down on the rug, “Concealed behind the faceless. Break the masks and you bring them.”

  “What does that even mean?”

  “You’re running out of time Reaper…”

  “If I can free you, will you help me?” The noise of the jolting door was ricocheting across the room, causing the Creator spirit to vaporise back into its butterfly form. My body was bouncing with their moments. I couldn’t hold them back for much longer.

  “If you can free me, I will do my rightful duty. That is all I can promise.”

  A sharp pain hit me in the centre of my spine as I was thrown forward onto my hands and knees before a series of Hunters jumped onto my back. They pinned me to the ground and squashed me against the stone floor like a welcome mat. As they shouted to one another, I could barely see past my own squashed nose when a sudden hit rocketed through the back of my skull. Darkness flooded me and I felt myself crumple and go limp.

  When I woke I was inside a type of cell smothered by chilled air and darkness. As my vision cleared I scrambled in my chains, first noticing my wrists were both bound behind my back and my ankles chained to the metal bars in front. I was sitting on my rear and had my back against the wall. Even as I glanced around myself I only could establish a sketch of shadows and a bounding headache. It had felt like I had been clobbered on the back of the skull with a metal baseball bat. This wasn’t part of the plan.

  I attempted to stand but barely shuffled on the spot as my legs were as heavy as gold shoved inside stockings. A sticky sensation clung to my cheeks, pasting my hair against my forehead that felt like feathered fingers cupping my head. It itched like crazy. Unsuccessfully trying to rub my forehead along my shoulder to ease the irritation, I tried craning forward to see beyond the vertical bar cells. My exhaling breath was loud which implied I was kept in a small confinement.

  I must’ve been sitting there for at least ten minutes before I noticed a flash of white watching me directly opposite. They had been sitting just beyond the bars in the dark, his stare as ferocious as a predator marking his prey. For a while his eyes just sat there perfectly still, there were even times that I had to blink the focus back into my own eyes just to insure I wasn’t seeing things.

  “Gargoyle?” I asked into the darkness. My voice was surprisingly raspy as if I had been deprived of water for days. The stranger shifted on the spot, their eyes tightened clearly displeased.

  “Why would you ask for that name?” It was a woman. I slammed my mouth closed.

  Stepping out of the gloom, a tall slim woman ringed her fingers around the bars before leaning forward. Sunset hair rained from her shoulders, the top of the crown and roots was bathed in crimson but from her collarbone down to the tips of her hair was polished yellow. Through the thick shadows, a pair of gentle golden eyes moved through me. For a moment, a slow moment, I could only blink back at the elegance that seemed to radiate off her. She didn’t smile, maybe she didn’t have to, but I felt myself melt into her beauty.

  “Why do you deserve to live?”

  “I’m sorry?” I could barely speak.

  “It is strictly forbidden for any outsider to speak to the Blue Spirit, any spirit that disobeys is punished with imprisonment to Mother for eternity. So why do you deserve to live when all others have perished?”

  “It was an accident…”

  “I’m sure.” She released her grip before standing up straight again, “What are you doing up here Reaper?”

  “I have come to appeal to the Royals…”

  “You’re lying!” Her lips curled in.

  “It was a misunderstanding.” Acting out of rage the woman raised a long dagger from her belt and slashed at the metal bars. I flinched at the screech of the blade striking across the metal.

  “Lair!” She hissed through her clenched teeth, the tip of the dagger now turned towards me. I pressed further against the wall but I was cornered.

  “Damage, he won’t like you doing that.” A voice crisp with youth piped up from the back corner, another Hunter slouched against the wall toying with one of the crystal bugs in his hands. I could barely see beyond a faint outline of his body, but he appeared young and lean.

  “He deserves to be sent to Mother, Reapers like him need to be taught a lesson, such untrustworthy creatures.” She was pacing the floor back and forth, running the tip of the blade across the bars so there was a constant bang, bang, bang, ringing in my ears.

  “And who would you send him to?” The youth grinned.

  “Wrath would destroy him too quickly; no I would send him to Envy for a slow, torturous
sentence that would have him ripping his own hair out-”

  “Enough…” Gargoyle’s voice spoke up from behind her followed by the sound of a door closing. As he approached the male youth leapt upwards and stood by his side. The boy was probably Evan’s age judging by his height and structure. Unlike Evan though, his eyes almost glistened with purity. His left eye was a mint green and his right eye a golden collage of yellow and brown. I couldn’t see much of his face beneath his red wispy hair style that had white dyed strands scattered like swan feathers. Three hunters surrounded the entrance of my cell like guards taunting a bound prisoner. I wrestled in my restraints weakly.

  “What’s going on?” I asked upwards. Gargoyle slightly touched the female on the shoulder as she lowered her weapon back to the notch in her belt. I felt her stare stab into me, bearing into my face as if trying to unscrew my head from my neck.

  “I was hoping you would tell me.” Gargoyle knelt down so we were eye level. “That was a nasty trick you played on me, I’m having a bit of trouble trusting you.”

  A little arrogantly I answered, “I changed my mind last minute.”

  “Why were you speaking to that spirit?”

  “I was curious about her.” Gargoyle’s lips lifted upwards, amused by my terribly lying.

  The youngest Hunter stuffed his hands into his pockets and balanced on the ball of his heels. “You were lucky that it was us that found you Reaper; if the other Hunters had gotten to you first they would have destroyed you on the spot.”

  “Oh, so it was you three who jumped on me and hit me in the back of the head?”

  Ignoring me the woman Hunter, whom I had figured was Damage, turned back towards Gargoyle in an annoyed huff, “I still don’t agree with your decision. The others will not blame you, it was just a mistake. Protocol dictates-”

  “It wasn’t my intention to hurt you Gargoyle.” I admitted above Damage’s voice.

  “No one says a word about his escape.” Gargoyle pushed himself upwards then turned to the youngest, “Chaos, go inform Miira that we have an audience with her.”

  Chaos nodded his head eagerly, spun on his heel and vanished within moments. “Damage, please help me escort the Reaper to the throne room.”

  The bars to my cells was brushed aside like mirror smoke before the chains that secured my ankles scattered into dust. “An illusion?” I questioned.

  “No, just a different type of cell than what you are accustomed to.” He stepped towards me and hauled me up by the scuff of cloak. With a strong nudge I was pushed into a walk.

  “Try that again and next time I will destroy you.”

  As I passed Damage she whispered, “Time for you to start begging.”

  ***

  The walk of shame had my head bowed and my teeth clenched. What would the Royal do to me? I can’t die here! The long walk from prison cell to the throne room wasn’t long enough and in no time we were standing in front of the double doors with Chaos’s hands ready on the handles.

  As we entered single filed we were greeted by a small blockage of a different kind of spirits. They wore sweeping long dresses matching to the colour theme of red and gold. Across their foreheads were golden type crowns, thin as twigs and intertwined like braided hair. Gargoyle lifted his hand up as they parted ways, bowing their heads and directing their eyes down onto their bare feet. Servants no doubt. Further in was a large grand hall, marble columns erected along either side of the red carpet walkway and up to a large, roman type throne.

  The Blue Spirit had said that the Lanterns were here, but everywhere I looked I couldn’t see them. With perfect posture awaited what I could safely presumed was the Royal Spirit Miira. Her kimono styled robe had multiple layers and colours, criss-crossing with fine sashes across her midsection and jewels of all sizes plunging from her neckline, fingers and wrists. Within her grip she cradled a tiny snake that was easily lost within the rest of her bracelets, and in her palms she held onto a golden goblet. Her bronzed hair was braided to her left and curled down her shoulder and side onto the floor. The strangest part about this Spirit wasn’t just her enormous size, her height easily matching that of a fictional giant, it was the mask she was wearing to cover her face.

  The painted expression was emotionless but the design and jewels that framed the mask had the entire piece look heavy enough to snap any mortal’s neck. Miira was inhaling a type of smoke from the goblet before she handed the large cup down to one of the waiting servants by her feet.

  “Speak!” Her voice rose above our heads and hit the high ceilings with a force that shook the walls. Immediately I felt fear towards this woman.

  Gargoyle bowed, as did the other two Hunters Damage and Chaos. Chaos gave me a quick nudge, prompting me to bow as well.

  “Is this the Reaper that escaped? Was this your responsibility Hunter Gargoyle?” The royal Miira questioned. There was a flutter of blue that caught my eye as tiny blue bird darted from across the hall before perching on a thin gold stand next to the throne. Her whole room was filled with creatures like some sort of high class petting zoo. My lips were dry in anticipation, not sure if I was to answer or if Gargoyle was to take the lead. Thankfully, Gargoyle stepped forward and presented towards me in an open gesture.

  “My blessed Royal, you honour us with your wisdom and patience. Regarding the incident involving the rumour of a rogue Reaper I can assure you this…” He paused for just a brief second, “…is not the Reaper you mentioned. I personally took this Reaper in; he has been under my custody the entire time.”

  Damage stiffened her clenched jaw as Miira waved away the servant with the goblet before gesturing for me to come forward. I walked forward till I stood beside Gargoyle. He remained facing Miira, not glancing at me once. By the manner in which his cheeks drained on colour had the nerves in my stomach fluttering wildly.

  “Why are you here?” The chimes all over her clothes moved like tiny bells as she shifted in her seat.

  “I have come to prove my innocence…” I started just as she lifted her palm to silence me.

  “You have no right to speak in my presence, Hunter, why are you here?”

  Gargoyle straightened his posture, “This Reaper has shown me a great kindness, and in return I have granted him a single chance to beg for your forgiveness. He is the Wolf Reaper that rumours have suggested intends a rebellion against the Hunters and your Royal Power. We present ourselves to you now to convince you that such rumours are false, and I know first-hand that this Reaper does not pose a threat to your rule-”

  “Humph!” Miira scoffed pomposity, “Of course such a small Reaper isn’t a threat to my supremacy. I am the Royal of this cosmic and my presence will remain on this throne till the end of time. You dishonour me by bringing forth such an unworthy spirit that supposedly has been the cause of question and doubt to my rights.”

  She lifted the tiny serpent up to her gaze, tilting her wrist back and forwards in admiration.

  “Send this Reaper to the Bug for nine months as a message to the others.”

  “The bug?” I glanced at Gargoyle then back at Damage and Chaos who waited silently two meters behind us. Damage was biting into her smile, trying to hide her joy whereas Chaos scrunched his face up.

  In a muted whisper he mouthed, “Greed, the Spider.”

  “For 9 months? But-” I turned to approach Miira but Gargoyle held his arm across my chest and sternly shook his head no.

  “I will see to it that the Reaper is taken to Mother.”

  “Good.” Miira dropped her hand back onto the armrest again, “I suggest, Hunter Gargoyle that you take into consideration more closely with whom you present yourself with. If you wish to be regarded as worthy of your title, than perhaps catching that rogue Reaper that is freely roaming my halls would be a good start… Unless of course, there is something that you are not telling me?”

  I held my breath, watching as Gargoyle toyed with the idea of coming out with the truth about me. Miira continued on, “They had said th
at my dearest Daughter had been disturbed by the Reaper, which I hope you all understand just how important it is that we capture and destroy this person.”

  “We will do everything that we can my Royal.” He assured before bowing again. For a long pause, Miira just sat there with her fingers posed together in an almost calculating manner, watching and studying every little muscle twitch as if to catch us out. Till finally, she gave the nod of dismissal and Gargoyle and I both bowed graciously.

  I hadn’t let my bottled breath go since she spoke as we started to turn back towards the door. Before we could leave something in the corner started to move. We all paused to watch the snake uncurl from around Miira’s wrist before dropping to the ground at her feet. Miira’s vacant stare moved down onto the snake curiously as it turned its head towards us, flicked out its tongue before it started to slide in our direction. I glanced at Gargoyle wearily to notice his face go rigid in panic.

  In silence the snake unfolded from its tiny body before stretching out into the long figure of a human child. Similar to the Creator with the Butterfly markings, the child had scales of meek green growing across its forehead, under its eyes and on its chin. It was completely naked but displayed no signs of gender; it was deformed with the same elongated limps and claws as the Butterfly had, but the only exceptions being the yellow eyes and snake birth mark on its neck. In patches the human skin was coloured in snake scales like a disease. Surprisingly the child smiled at me warmly; flashing me its jagged teeth beneath its lips. The Snake Creator approached with a skip in its step, before taking me by the wrist and bringing my hand up to its nose. We all froze as the creature inhaled my scent, no doubt tasting the smoke from the Butterfly Creator. At the same time, the blue robin stepped off from its perch and reformed into the body of a child, but with blue feathers across its forehead, eyes and chin. A little less confident than the snake, the bird circle around me inhaling long deep breaths. In a foreign gurgle, Miira rolled her tongue into a series of clicks, speaking to the spirit in an alien language. The snake child caught eye contact with me and I could sense my eyes widen with alarm, we had been caught out, before it unexpectedly smile and winked. In reply the child chirp back to Miira before stepping away from me. The blue robin fluttered into its bird form and took off back onto its stand.