I held the scroll aloft and dark energy filled the air. The murky power swayed through the air in great misty tendrils. I knew this power. All encompassing and non negotiable. It bowed to no man, woman, or child could avoid it. The Shades were too focused in their rage to see reason in fleeing before my artifact despite its obvious deathly energy. Though some shades seemed to fade when they touched the tendrils of power but did not disappear. As though it drained their existence from this realm.
"You bear an artifact! So what! We want that F#ckers blood! And we will have it!" The lead Shade roared in fury. The others shook as their energies began to merge in a rush towards me. The room darkened further at their advance but I felt no fear.
I had not yet revealed my cards to them. I still had many aces up my sleeve. But this one ace. My artifact. Would be enough. And even as they charged I felt a mysterious peace fill my heart as mercy replaced my pride.
"Rest a while oh you weary souls. And find the peace you deserve beyond this life." I whispered as the wailing charge collided with the scroll. The scrolls power seemed to ignite into a near blinding light as the souls collided with it making me close my eyes against the brilliance.
My feet scraped the floor leaving great white scratches as I was forced backwards by the force of the collision. But the Shades did not get past my scroll. But were sucked into it. Names began to fill the nearly empty parchment as shade after shade was absorbed. And life after life entered the space between our world and the afterlife.
The scrolls glow shifted to an eerie emerald green as it began to leech its energy into me. And then it began.
The experiences from those who entered the scroll filled my mind. One by one. Then two by two. From their beggining to their end. From Birth to Death. So many different experiences filled my view. Lust and passion against the Love and Patience. Sloth and Action, Powerful and Weak. I saw them. Dark and light, Old and young. None of this mattered after I lived their lifetimes. But the thing I found most interesting was that I never lost myself.
I lived hundreds of lives. Pirates to Nobles. And not one caused me the grief of losing who I was. Mostly due to me having an understanding of who I was. My time bedridden had allowed me to strengthen my mentality alot. But I did find that it gave me greater insight. So much that my understanding about my own experience increased. Hundreds of horrible experiences mixed with long suffering forced me to learn that. I had no choice.
My life which I had thought so full of pain and filled with grief now seemed small compared to these ones. Their pain... their grief. Now I understood it all. How short a mortal life really was. A vast universe and how many lives lost every day? Millions of planets coated in life that dies every second makes us out to be but a momentary speck in an uncaring universe.
Men and women. I came to understand them all. Though it was a bit embarrassing playing through the women's lives. Feeling what they felt. I came to understand much of what I didnt know before. A womans view point perhaps was not so different from a mans. Just more emotional attachment and capacity for multiple tasks. Their hardship compiled onto them by nature was hard to bear when I was put through it. I was shocked to say the least. Women have it rough.
I began to cry as I experienced the last soul though. A little boy. Orphaned at birth. He never knew his family. Eventually life got to him and he ran. Taking a small boat he tried to sail to a different place. To adventure to the unknown. But he found himself lost against the tide. Somehow making it through the currents of the sea and the maelstroms not to mention starvation to the sandy beach. Only to die once he felt the sands warmth. An arrow piercing his chest from an enemy he couldnt see. He died not knowing why. Knowing he made it to somewhere he had never been. But happy he died on land whispering to his parents that he was coming home.
How he had turned into a shade, I was never shown. But I was glad that he finally found a place where he could finally rest in peace.
After the experience I looked around and didnt see any more shades. (I guess they were sent to their rest.) I thought as I turned to examine my surroundings again. The once decent mansion was now cracked and ruined. Many floors having holes and not one window remained unshattered.
"Such a shame." I said as I turned and took my captive with me. Ivan was still out cold and his bleeding had finally slowed to a stop. I spread my wings wide and gently flew away from the island. Looking down briefly after hearing the sound of boards hitting each other. I found a cloud of dust rising into the air as the stone and wood mansion collapsed. And all I felt was along the lines of good riddance.
I turned and rocketed into the night sky. Taking a deep breath and relished the feeling of living. Experiencing death a couple hundred times was immense. The feeling of losing touch with the senses was incredibly disorienting. Hundreds of times I experienced deaths cold clutches and found myself alive again in someone else's history. But now that I had my heart pounding in my chest I felt energized. I felt invigorated. I truly felt alive.
I looked down at the weight I felt on my arm. Ivan hanging there like a package to be delivered. His hair hung like a wet dogs fur around his face. Cut and bruised but still living.
I smiled and spread my wings wide before letting out a roar that sent shivers through the billowing wind and the raging waves. I beat my wings and rocketed into the storming clouds. The lightning bounced around us but did not hit us. Dancing around in a crazed tango between the clouds it was beautiful to behold. I decided at one point to try to get above the lightning for fear of my package being destroyed by accident. And as I rose the storm around me slowly grew weaker until the sky cleared. The moon seemed to stretch across the sky like a titan watching over the night. The storm clouds reaching like a great grey carpet before me.
The stars dotting the sky appeared like playful little lights around the moon. I could have stayed up there forever. But I didnt have time to dawdle. I had a ship to catch. I once again bolted across the sky. The air screaming in my wake as I flew. The clouds created whispy waves in my wake as wind rushed behind me.
Ivan flailed at my side like a ragdoll against the winds pressure. I had no idea how long he would remain asleep for. But I was hoping he'd wake up for the captain.
I was a little afraid that I was going the wrong direction till I eventually saw it. The ship in the distance.
It started out as a speck till I got close enough to show its behemoth size. A few sailors noticed me as I approached. no doubt looking like some terrifying creature and I heard shouting in the distance. In moments I saw the captain approach the deck. Her spy glass whipped out as she quickly tried to spy what could be approaching her vessel.
I saw her put the glass away and begin waving to the men telling them something. (Probably nothing I should worry about.) I thought to myself.
I descended slowly to land on the ships deck. My claws tapping lightly against the hard wood leaving the tiniest of puncture marks. And with a thud I dropped Ivan to the ground. His breath was still constant and his body didnt even twitch towards being awake.
I turned to the captain who was standing their with her hands on her hips like a mother expecting a scolded sons answer.
I shrugged. "I took care of the problem and brought back the leader. And I hardly damaged the ship in the process of coming and going. And I'm sorry I couldnt inform you I was on my way back. But you should be happier. I took care of the problem." I said as I turned to walk away.
"You gave my men a fright and still expect a thanks? Well... I suppose its warranted. You have solved a problem of mine and settled your end of the deal. So I s'pose I should do mine as well." She said as she turned to the captains quarters.
I held up a hand and she felt a force stop her in her tracks.
"Not today. When we make landfall it will be far easier and less offensive to Vara if we do it there." I said loudly as I continued walking to my quarters.
I stretched and yawned loudly as I got close to the door. (I could really use a nap.) I thought as I opened the door.
And what greeted me was a sight of Kyle sitting at a chess board with Val. Kyle was obviously losing badly. Half of his pieces were already taken and Val's queen had his King in check. In other words he was in trouble.
I smiled broadly as I entered.
"Looks like someone is finally sea worthy." I said with a chuckle.
Kyle turned to look at me and frowned. "While you were away the lass has been showing me how to play chess. I thought I was good at strategy. But I guess not if I'm losing this badly." He said as he went back to examining his board with a hum.
I looked at the board closely before moving one of Kyle's knights. "Check." I said as the knight, a pawn, and Kyle's castle cornered Vals king.
Val looked slightly amused at my move and leaned back against her chair in thought. Meanwhile I turned and sank into a hard bed built into the ship. And just like that I was able to feel the ship swaying back and forth lulling me to sleep.
My dreams though brought me no pleasure. But they brought me to a place I hated most.
A hospital laid out before me. A hospital I knew so well. As it was the one I had stayed in for all those years. I slowly entered the doors finding the hallways empty. Not one soul to be seen.
I felt a sudden chill behind me and turned to see what it was.
Much to my surprise I found a man in a black suit and tie with a pure white shirt.
I could feel the vibes coming from him. Cold, calculated, and uncaring. This guy was a reaper.
He walked into a doctors office. Doctor Vincent Harlow. My Physiotherapist when i had been alive till I couldnt afford his treatment. I looked and found the reaper standing at the window leading outside.
He gestured for me to sit in a fluffy chair across from him. And slowly I obliged.
The chairs material was course and uncomfortable. Despite its appearance being nice.
The reaper turned and sat behind the desk before pulling out a file folder and placing it in front of him.
"My name is Calder. And if you haven't guessed it already I'm a reaper that was asked to make contact with you." He said. His voice was thick and sounded Norwegian. His hands were thick and taking a closer look at him one would see he was trying to hide alot of muscle under that tiny suit of his.
I didnt touch the folder he had pushed over to me before I responded.
"Well Calder. If you wanted to meet with me I assume we should both be somewhere we both find more comfortable." I said as I raised my hands and snapped my fingers.
Suddenly the scene changed to a cafe. A small table was between us as we sat in an open air patio that lead to the sidewalk.
Calders eyes widened slightly in shock as I sat their unfazed. I picked up a hot tea that sat before me and took a sip before waving a cup of it into existence for him as well.
I looked at him in his frozen state staring at me before pushing my point.
"You invited me to a meeting. Tell your superiors to take note in the future that anything happening in my mind happens on my terms. Now what did you seek to get from me?" I said as I sat back crossing my legs and folding my fingers together into a relaxed clasp across my belly.
Calders face suddenly changed into a smirk as he shook his head and sat down. The folder reappeared before us with a list of people on it. I slowly picked up the file and I'll admit I wasn't shocked with what I found.
It was the list of everyone my scroll had absorbed.
I looked back at him and laid the folder back down. "So you want to know where they are or are you just expecting me to guess your intentions?" I said. I'll admit. I'm being an ass. But he shouldn't have brought up the hospital if he wanted to get on my good side.
He shrugged before taking a sip of his tea. "My boss would like for us to get those lost souls back into the cycle of the worlds. After all. That's where they belong. And I as a caretaker for this world will need your cooperation to do so." He said as he set the cup down again.
I nodded. "So what? I'm just coughing up spirits for you guys. I think you understand. Souls can be said to be a currency for the worlds. I believe equivalent exchange is what you people call it. So I'm asking what do I get for giving you souls that you missed in your meager excuse for reaping?" I said with my voice level and calm as possible.
Calder was calm when he pulled out another red folder with terms in it as well before he carried on. "Shall we discuss what you want then. 200 souls is not a small amount after all so we expected this."